Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($168,400 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,452)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Gresham by $14,876/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
32% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $14,876 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$243k less
$168,400 vs $411,700
Columbus
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Median Income
$14,876
$69,437 vs $54,561/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
32% lower
410.2 vs 603.8 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 14 and Gresham wins 9. 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 Columbus to Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $411,700 median home), income ($54,561 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Gresham, OR are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.