Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 22 categories
Columbus
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($212,500 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.3%)
Median income trails St. George by $6,339/yr
St. George, UT
Pros
52% less violent crime than Columbus
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 37°F
Households earn $6,339 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$203k less
$212,500 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$6,339
$69,333 vs $62,994/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
52% lower
210.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 22 categories. Columbus wins 7 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $415,200 median home), income ($62,994 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and St. George, UT are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.