Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Downey leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($226,200 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $709/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,814)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $30,141/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.6%)
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,141 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$453k less
$226,200 vs $679,000
Columbia
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$30,141
$84,236 vs $54,095/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
40% lower
460.5 vs 769.9 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Downey leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Downey 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $679,000 median home), income ($54,095 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Downey, CA are about 2,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.