Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449
Dallas
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
34% less violent crime than Dallas
Homes cost $58k less ($212,500 vs $270,700)
Rent averages $144/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,305)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Dallas, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) 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 94.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
34% lower
434.9 vs 658.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$58k less
$212,500 vs $270,700
Dallas
Median Income
$991
$63,985 vs $62,994/yr
Dallas
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $270,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,305 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $63,985 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 36.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 and Dallas wins 12. 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $270,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Dallas, TX are about 912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.