Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Columbus leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, GA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $45k less ($168,400 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,225)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
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
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 6.6%)
Median income trails Portsmouth by $2,593/yr
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $2,593 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
20% lower
603.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$45k less
$168,400 vs $213,300
Columbus
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$2,593
$57,154 vs $54,561/yr
Portsmouth
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 8. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $213,300 median home), income ($54,561 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Portsmouth, VA are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.