Aiken, SC vs Columbia, TN
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Aiken
69.5
#1191 nationally
Columbia
63.7
#1743 nationally
Aiken leads in average commute (23.2 min vs 26.5 min). Aiken leads in median household income ($65,712 vs $58,110). Columbia leads in cost of living index (96 vs 101).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Aiken, SC | Columbia, TN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.5 (#1191) | 63.7 (#1743) |
| Population | 32,947 | 47,445 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $281,439 | $376,699 |
| Median Household Income | $65,712 | $58,110 |
| Average Commute | 23.2 min | 26.5 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 24 |
| Crime Level | 15.6 | 15.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.9 | R+44.6 |
D+
69.5 Score
Aiken, SC
Small South Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$281,439
Population
32,947
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Southeast
View Aiken, SC →
D
63.7 Score
Columbia, TN
Small Tennessee city with local appeal
Median Home
$376,699
Population
47,445
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Southeast
View Columbia, TN →