Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton 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
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,255)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hampton, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Columbus
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Median Income
$1,436
$64,430 vs $62,994/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
43% lower
247.6 vs 434.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $219,800 median home), income ($62,994 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Hampton, VA are about 414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.