Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Households earn $6,668 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Columbus
Homes cost $54k less ($158,700 vs $212,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($955 vs $1,161)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Median income trails Columbus by $6,668/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$6,668
$62,994 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
66% lower
150.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$54k less
$158,700 vs $212,500
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 6 and McAllen wins 17. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $158,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and McAllen, TX are about 1,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.