Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($212,500 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $41,869/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
86% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $41,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$71k less
$212,500 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Median Income
$41,869
$104,863 vs $62,994/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
86% lower
59.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 13.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 6 and O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $283,600 median home), income ($62,994 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and O'Fallon, MO are about 421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.