Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($168,400 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,335)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 102°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. George by $14,772/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
65% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $14,772 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$247k less
$168,400 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$14,772
$69,333 vs $54,561/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
65% lower
210.0 vs 603.8 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.3% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $415,200 median home), income ($54,561 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and St. George, UT are about 1,652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.