Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 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
Lynn
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($226,200 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,511)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lynn by $15,951/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.7%)
Lynn, MA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $15,951 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$217k less
$226,200 vs $442,800
Columbia
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$15,951
$70,046 vs $54,095/yr
Lynn
Violent Crime
25% lower
574.6 vs 769.9 per 100k
Lynn
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and Lynn 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $442,800 median home), income ($54,095 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Lynn, MA are about 793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.