Population

Alameda

76,876

Columbia

105,871

Median Income

Alameda

$132,015

Columbia

$129,173

Home Value

Alameda

$1,203,900

Columbia

$480,300

Rent

Alameda

$2,394

Columbia

$1,998

Crime Rate

Alameda

3.17

Columbia

N/A

Cost of Living

Alameda

247.5

Columbia

185.2

Avg Temp

Alameda

N/A

Columbia

N/A

Unemployment

Alameda

5.0%

Columbia

4.5%

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How Similar Are Alameda & Columbia?

Columbia is Alameda's #14 most similar city

3/8

3 of 8 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Alameda

76,876

vs

Columbia

105,871

Different · 27% difference

Columbia has a 27% larger population than Alameda.

Political Leaning

Alameda

21.0%

vs

Columbia

27.4%

Different · 23% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Columbia has a stronger Democratic lean (23% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Alameda

5.0%

vs

Columbia

4.5%

Different · 11% difference

Alameda has a 11% higher unemployment than Columbia.

Median Income

Alameda

$132,015

vs

Columbia

$129,173

Match · 2% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 2% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Alameda

$1,203,900

vs

Columbia

$480,300

Different · 60% difference

Alameda's home values is significantly higher than Columbia's — 60% difference.

Education

Alameda

43.8%

vs

Columbia

44.5%

Match · 2% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 2% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Alameda

43.4%

vs

Columbia

46.0%

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 6% difference.

Cost of Living

Alameda

247.5

vs

Columbia

185.2

Different · 25% difference
💵

Alameda has a 25% higher cost of living than Columbia.

3 out of 8 key metrics match within 10%. Alameda and Columbia differ in most key areas.

At a Glance

0

Alameda

vsof 8

0

Columbia

Cost of Living & Affordability — Columbia leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Columbia scores 237.0 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 400.0 in Alameda. Columbia has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,511 vs $2,385 in Alameda (58% lower). Columbia has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,857 vs $2,912 in Alameda (57% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Alameda247.5
Columbia185.2

Housing Index

Alameda400.0
Columbia237.0

Food Index

Alameda150.9
Columbia148.7

Transportation Index

Alameda142.9
Columbia138.7

Healthcare Index

Alameda140.7
Columbia139.0

Utilities Index

Alameda190.5
Columbia156.6

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Alameda$108,885
Columbia$81,506

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Alameda$257,364
Columbia$192,651

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Alameda$2,385
Columbia$1,511

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Alameda$2,912
Columbia$1,857

Housing Market — Columbia leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Alameda has a median home value of $1,203,900 vs $480,300 in Columbia (151% higher). Columbia has a median property tax of $5,969 vs $9,587 in Alameda (61% lower). Columbia has a vacancy rate of 4.9% compared to 7.2% in Alameda.

Median Home Value

Alameda$1,203,900
Columbia$480,300

Median Rent

Alameda$2,394
Columbia$1,998

Median Property Tax

Alameda$9,587
Columbia$5,969

Owner-Occupied

Alameda49.0%
Columbia64.9%

Vacancy Rate

Alameda7.2%
Columbia4.9%

Single-Family Homes

Alameda54.5%
Columbia65.5%

Jobs & Economy — Alameda leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbia: 60,493 vs Alameda: 41,720 for labor force. Alameda has a work from home of 28.1% compared to 22.3% in Columbia. Alameda has a per capita income of $72,245 vs $62,614 in Columbia (15% higher).

Median Household Income

Alameda$132,015
Columbia$129,173

Per Capita Income

Alameda$72,245
Columbia$62,614

Poverty Rate

Alameda6.9%
Columbia7.4%

Unemployment Rate

Alameda5.0%
Columbia4.5%

Labor Force

Alameda41,720
Columbia60,493

Mean Commute

Alameda23 min
Columbia22 min

Work from Home

Alameda28.1%
Columbia22.3%

Private Sector

Alameda86.6%
Columbia81.8%

Government Sector

Alameda40.4%
Columbia36.9%

Crime & Safety

Source: FBI UCR

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Alameda3.17
ColumbiaN/A

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Alameda49.14
ColumbiaN/A

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Alameda0.08
ColumbiaN/A

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Alameda1.25
ColumbiaN/A

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Alameda1.63
ColumbiaN/A

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Alameda2.58
ColumbiaN/A

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Alameda33.78
ColumbiaN/A

Violent Crime Clearance

Alameda39.8%
ColumbiaN/A

Property Crime Clearance

Alameda6.3%
ColumbiaN/A

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Annual High

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Annual Low

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Sunny Days per Year

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Annual Rainfall

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Annual Snowfall

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Humidity

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Schools & Education — Columbia leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Columbia has a high school diploma or higher of 52.8% compared to 51.6% in Alameda. Columbia has a bachelor's degree or higher of 44.5% compared to 43.8% in Alameda.

Public Schools

Alameda0
Columbia0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

AlamedaN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Colleges & Universities

Alameda0
Columbia0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Alameda43.8%
Columbia44.5%

High School Diploma or Higher

Alameda51.6%
Columbia52.8%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbia has a population of 105,871, about 1.4x the size of Alameda (76,876). Columbia skews younger with a median age of 39.1 vs 40.7.

Population

Alameda76,876
Columbia105,871

Median Age

Alameda41
Columbia39

Avg Household Size

Alameda2.5
Columbia2.6

Married Population

Alameda44.1%
Columbia41.1%

Foreign Born

Alameda25.4%
Columbia20.8%

White

Alameda43.4%
Columbia46.0%

Black

Alameda6.1%
Columbia29.0%

Hispanic

Alameda14.2%
Columbia9.4%

Asian

Alameda30.3%
Columbia11.8%

Alameda

Columbia

Healthcare — Alameda leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Alameda: 4 vs Columbia: 3 for with emergency services. Alameda: 2.8 vs Columbia: 2.7 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Alameda5
Columbia5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Alameda2.8
Columbia2.7

With Emergency Services

Alameda4
Columbia3

Transportation & Commute — Alameda leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Alameda has a bicycle of 2.5% compared to 0.1% in Columbia. Alameda has a public transit of 12.2% compared to 2.9% in Columbia. Columbia has a drive alone of 66.3% compared to 46.7% in Alameda.

Mean Commute Time

Alameda23 min
Columbia22 min

Drive Alone

Alameda46.7%
Columbia66.3%

Public Transit

Alameda12.2%
Columbia2.9%

Bicycle

Alameda2.5%
Columbia0.1%

Work from Home

Alameda28.1%
Columbia22.3%

Airports

Alameda0
Columbia0

Cities Similar to Alameda, CA

Compare Alameda against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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