Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
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
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Columbia
Homes cost $68k less ($158,700 vs $226,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($955 vs $1,105)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$2,231
$56,326 vs $54,095/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
81% lower
150.0 vs 769.9 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$68k less
$158,700 vs $226,200
McAllen
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 5 and McAllen wins 18. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $158,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and McAllen, TX are about 1,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.