Aiken, SC vs Columbus, OH
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
Columbus
76.5
#341 nationally
Columbus leads in walk score (41 vs 24). Columbus leads in cost of living index (93 vs 101). Aiken leads in median household income ($65,712 vs $62,889).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Aiken, SC | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.5 (#1191) | 76.5 (#341) |
| Population | 32,947 | 913,175 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $281,439 | $248,686 |
| Median Household Income | $65,712 | $62,889 |
| Average Commute | 23.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 41 |
| Crime Level | 15.6 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.9 | D+28.4 |
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 →
C
76.5 Score
Columbus, OH
Ohio's capital city on the rise
Median Home
$248,686
Population
913,175
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Columbus, OH →