Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Green Bay leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Green Bay
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
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 4.1%)
Median income trails Green Bay by $5,079/yr
Green Bay, WI
Pros
36% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Homes cost $54k less ($172,700 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($864 vs $1,105)
Households earn $5,079 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 79.8°F
Green Bay
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Income
$5,079
$59,174 vs $54,095/yr
Green Bay
Violent Crime
36% lower
495.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$54k less
$172,700 vs $226,200
Green Bay
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $59,174 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 18.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 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 | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 32.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 55.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 106,846 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 56.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 10 and Green Bay wins 13. 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $172,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Green Bay, WI are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.