Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Rent averages $717/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $126k less ($226,200 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $33,661/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 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
86% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $33,661 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Columbia
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$126k less
$226,200 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$33,661
$87,756 vs $54,095/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
86% lower
109.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 7 and Surprise wins 16. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $352,600 median home), income ($54,095 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Surprise, AZ are about 1,803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.