Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Everett, WA
🏆 Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Everett
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($212,500 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $450/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,611)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Everett by $14,812/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Everett, WA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $14,812 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbus
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$259k less
$212,500 vs $471,200
Columbus
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Columbus
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.0°F vs 74.8°F
Everett
Median Income
$14,812
$77,806 vs $62,994/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
39% lower
265.1 vs 434.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Everett, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $471,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,611⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $77,806 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Everett School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 110,847 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 48.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Everett's 113.0 (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 Everett 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 Everett or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $471,200 median home), income ($62,994 vs $77,806), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Everett, WA are about 2,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.