Columbia, SC vs Katy, TX
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.
Columbia
73.8
#670 nationally
Katy
72.3
#905 nationally
Katy leads in crime level (6.2 vs 21.1). Katy leads in median household income ($114,917 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 29.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Katy, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#670) | 72.3 (#905) |
| Population | 142,416 | 26,360 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $230,662 | $337,000 |
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $114,917 |
| Average Commute | 17.4 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.1 | 6.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+33.5 | D+1.6 |
Data coverage note: Katy is missing data for 1 metric that Columbia has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C-
72.3 Score
Katy, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$337,000
Population
26,360
Crime
Moderate
Median Income
$114,917
Southwest
View Katy, TX →