Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($212,500 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $703/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,864)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $29,298/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $29,298 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbus
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$364k less
$212,500 vs $576,800
Columbus
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.0°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$29,298
$92,292 vs $62,994/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
22% lower
339.2 vs 434.9 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 13 and Renton wins 10. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($62,994 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Renton, WA are about 2,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.