Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449
Fort Worth
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($212,500 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $9,732/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $9,732 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) 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 94.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
5% lower
434.9 vs 458.4 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$38k less
$212,500 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$9,732
$72,726 vs $62,994/yr
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Fort Worth, 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 | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 12 and Fort Worth wins 11. 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $250,300 median home), income ($62,994 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Fort Worth, TX are about 939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.