Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($248,600 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1165/mo less ($997 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 27 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $51,262/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,262 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Columbia
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$369k less
$248,600 vs $617,300
Columbia
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$51,262
$111,717 vs $60,455/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
13% lower
301.4 vs 347.5 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Tracy wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Columbia to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($60,455 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Tracy, CA are about 1,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.