Columbia, SC vs University Place, WA
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
University Place
64.4
#1696 nationally
University Place leads in crime level (6.5 vs 21.1). University Place leads in median household income ($89,658 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 27.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, SC | University Place, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#670) | 64.4 (#1696) |
| Population | 142,416 | 35,049 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $230,662 | $662,353 |
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $89,658 |
| Average Commute | 17.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 32 |
| Crime Level | 21.1 | 6.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 132 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+33.5 | D+10.8 |
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
64.4 Score
University Place, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$662,353
Population
35,049
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
32
Pacific
View University Place, WA →
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