Columbia, SC vs St. Charles, IL
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
St. Charles
73.3
#762 nationally
St. Charles leads in crime level (2.5 vs 21.1). St. Charles leads in median household income ($110,346 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, SC | St. Charles, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#670) | 73.3 (#762) |
| Population | 142,416 | 32,654 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $230,662 | $482,151 |
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $110,346 |
| Average Commute | 17.4 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 37 |
| Crime Level | 21.1 | 2.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+33.5 | D+9.4 |
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
73.3 Score
St. Charles, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$482,151
Population
32,654
Crime
Low
Walk Score
37
Midwest
View St. Charles, IL →
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