Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville 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
Roseville
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($212,500 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $779/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,940)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $49,271/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,271 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Columbus
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbus
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$384k less
$212,500 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$49,271
$112,265 vs $62,994/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
50% lower
219.2 vs 434.9 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 6 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $596,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Roseville, CA are about 2,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.