Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($212,500 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $661/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $24,762/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Surprise, AZ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $24,762 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$140k less
$212,500 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$24,762
$87,756 vs $62,994/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
75% lower
109.1 vs 434.9 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 8 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($62,994 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Surprise, AZ are about 1,679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.