Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Lewisville, TX
🏆 Lewisville 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
Lewisville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,006 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
125,028
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($226,200 vs $328,300)
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,455)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lewisville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lewisville by $27,911/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 3.8%)
Lewisville, TX
Pros
76% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $27,911 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (187.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,300
Higher rents — median is $1,455/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$102k less
$226,200 vs $328,300
Lewisville
Median Income
$27,911
$82,006 vs $54,095/yr
Lewisville
Violent Crime
76% lower
187.4 vs 769.9 per 100k
Lewisville
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Lewisville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $328,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,455⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $82,006 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | LEWISVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 125,028 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 34.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 45.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Lewisville's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lewisville leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Lewisville 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 Lewisville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $328,300 median home), income ($54,095 vs $82,006), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Lewisville, TX are about 927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.