Which is better, Columbus, OH or Houston, TX?

Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 38 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Columbus, OH leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Columbus, OH or Houston, TX?

Columbus, OH has a population of 944,402 (15th of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).

How do Columbus, OH and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Columbus, OH $66,082 (264th of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.

How do Columbus, OH and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Columbus, OH $252,900 (162nd of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.

Where does Columbus, OH beat Houston, TX most clearly?

Columbus, OH ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.6 vs 100.6; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 374.1 vs 886.1; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 21.5 vs 27.2.

Where does Houston, TX beat Columbus, OH most clearly?

Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 98.9; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $67,610 vs $67,270; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.3 vs 95.5.

Columbus, OH vs Houston, TX

Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 38 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Columbus, OH leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

45 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Columbus, OH

Wins: 38
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 2

Houston, TX

Wins: 7
Avg. percentile: 33
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Columbus, OH	Houston, TX
Population	944,402 15th of 477	2,419,191 4th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$66,082 264th of 434	$64,813 276th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$252,900 162nd of 434	$277,800 188th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	18.1% 301st of 434	19.9% 333rd of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.5 167th of 460	98.6 tied 224th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$67,270 196th of 460	$67,610 tied 186th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,295 192nd of 434	$1,361 tied 215th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	374.1 193rd of 395	886.1 356th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyColumbus, OH · 5 statistics
EconomicsColumbus, OH · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Columbus, OH	Houston, TX
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	93.6 tied 4th of 460	100.6 tied 300th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	374.1 193rd of 395	886.1 356th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	21.5 169th of 434	27.2 336th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	93.6% 127th of 434	90.1% 284th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.9 tied 208th of 460	95.6 tied 47th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,502.1 283rd of 395	3,807.2 360th of 395
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$51,340 181st of 460	$49,410 tied 242nd of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	87.9 176th of 460	104.5 tied 234th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.5 167th of 460	98.6 tied 224th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	382.1 313th of 395	484.6 344th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	8.9 309th of 395	11.3 340th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	18.1% 301st of 434	19.9% 333rd of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$252,900 162nd of 434	$277,800 188th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,295 192nd of 434	$1,361 tied 215th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	38.2% 172nd of 434	36.6% 187th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$66,082 264th of 434	$64,813 276th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	480.5 341st of 395	520.3 350th of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$67,270 196th of 460	$67,610 tied 186th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.5 296th of 460	95.3 tied 290th of 460

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Columbus, OH or Houston, TX?: Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 38 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Columbus, OH leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Columbus, OH or Houston, TX?: Columbus, OH has a population of 944,402 (15th of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).
How do Columbus, OH and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Columbus, OH $66,082 (264th of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.
How do Columbus, OH and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Columbus, OH $252,900 (162nd of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.
Where does Columbus, OH beat Houston, TX most clearly?: Columbus, OH ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.6 vs 100.6; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 374.1 vs 886.1; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 21.5 vs 27.2.
Where does Houston, TX beat Columbus, OH most clearly?: Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 98.9; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $67,610 vs $67,270; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.3 vs 95.5.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Columbus, OH or Houston, TX.

All US cities matchups