Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($168,400 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $50,302/yr
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $50,302 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$115k less
$168,400 vs $283,600
Columbus
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 87.5°F
O'Fallon
Median Income
$50,302
$104,863 vs $54,561/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
90% lower
59.0 vs 603.8 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.1% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 9 and O'Fallon wins 14. 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $283,600 median home), income ($54,561 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and O'Fallon, MO are about 543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.