Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Columbus leads 17 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($212,500 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,666)
36% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Inglewood by $4,569/yr
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Households earn $4,569 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
36% lower
434.9 vs 674.6 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$477k less
$212,500 vs $689,700
Columbus
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Columbus
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.0°F vs 77.2°F
Inglewood
Median Income
$4,569
$67,563 vs $62,994/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 17 and Inglewood wins 6. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $689,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Inglewood, CA are about 1,982 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.