Austin, TX vs Columbia, SC
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.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Columbia
73.8
#670 nationally
Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 26.8 min). Columbia leads in cost of living index (100 vs 129).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 73.8 (#670) |
| Population | 967,862 | 142,416 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $230,662 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $54,095 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 35 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 21.1 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 100 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | R+33.5 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
C
73.8 Score
Columbia, SC
Mid-size South Carolina city with community character
Median Home
$230,662
Population
142,416
Crime
High
Walk Score
35
Southeast
View Columbia, SC →