Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($226,200 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $637/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,742)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 13 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 Kent by $32,871/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
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $32,871 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Columbia
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Columbia
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
$252k less
$226,200 vs $478,400
Columbia
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$32,871
$86,966 vs $54,095/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
36% lower
489.7 vs 769.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Kent, 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 | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 13 and Kent wins 10. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $478,400 median home), income ($54,095 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Kent, WA are about 2,318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.