Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Households earn $3,682 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 37°F
Homes cost $26k less ($186,500 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,161)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Columbus by $3,682/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$3,682
$62,994 vs $59,312/yr
Columbus
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
3% lower
423.6 vs 434.9 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$26k less
$186,500 vs $212,500
Yuma
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 9 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $186,500 median home), income ($62,994 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Yuma, AZ are about 1,821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.