Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Everett, WA
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Everett
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($226,200 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,611)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Commutes run 10 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 Everett by $23,711/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 5.8%)
Everett, WA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $23,711 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Columbia
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$245k less
$226,200 vs $471,200
Columbia
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 74.8°F
Everett
Median Income
$23,711
$77,806 vs $54,095/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
66% lower
265.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Everett
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Everett, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $471,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,611⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $77,806 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Everett School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 74.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 110,847 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 48.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Everett's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and Everett wins 11. 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 Everett or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $471,200 median home), income ($54,095 vs $77,806), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Everett, WA are about 2,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.