Columbia, SC vs Summit, NJ
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
Summit
65.6
#1624 nationally
Summit leads in crime level (1.6 vs 21.1). Summit leads in median household income ($176,702 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 33.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Summit, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#670) | 65.6 (#1624) |
| Population | 142,416 | 22,344 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $230,662 | $1,433,872 |
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $176,702 |
| Average Commute | 17.4 min | 33.9 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 47 |
| Crime Level | 21.1 | 1.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 189 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+33.5 | D+24.2 |
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 →
D
65.6 Score
Summit, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,433,872
Population
22,344
Crime
Low
Walk Score
47
Northeast
View Summit, NJ →