Population

Columbus

204,383

Independence

121,944

Median Income

Columbus

$56,622

Independence

$59,480

Home Value

Columbus

$182,300

Independence

$166,400

Rent

Columbus

$1,072

Independence

$1,061

Crime Rate

Columbus

6.08

Independence

5.72

Cost of Living

Columbus

96.1

Independence

97.5

Avg Temp

Columbus

N/A

Independence

N/A

Unemployment

Columbus

6.5%

Independence

6.0%

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How Similar Are Columbus & Independence?

Independence is Columbus's #9 most similar city

6/10

6 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Columbus

204,383

vs

Independence

121,944

Different · 40% difference

Columbus has a 40% larger population than Independence.

Violent Crime

Columbus

6.08

vs

Independence

5.72

Match · 6% difference
🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 6% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Columbus

22.36

vs

Independence

35.24

Different · 37% difference

Independence has a 37% higher property crime than Columbus.

Political Leaning

Columbus

38.0%

vs

Independence

39.5%

Match · 4% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 4% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Columbus

6.5%

vs

Independence

6.0%

Match · 7% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 7% difference.

Median Income

Columbus

$56,622

vs

Independence

$59,480

Match · 5% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 5% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Columbus

$182,300

vs

Independence

$166,400

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 9% difference.

Education

Columbus

19.6%

vs

Independence

14.3%

Different · 27% difference
🎓

Columbus has a 27% higher education than Independence.

Demographics

🌍

Columbus

39.3%

vs

Independence

72.2%

Different · 46% difference

Independence has a 46% higher demographics than Columbus.

Cost of Living

Columbus

96.1

vs

Independence

97.5

Match · 1% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 1% difference.

6 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Columbus and Independence share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Columbus

vsof 8

0

Independence

Independence leads in 3 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Columbus leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Columbus has a fair market rent (1br) of $939 vs $1,197 in Independence (22% lower). Columbus has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,088 vs $1,358 in Independence (20% lower). Columbus scores 86.6 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 90.9 in Independence.

Overall Cost Index

Columbus96.1
Independence97.5

Housing Index

Columbus105.7
Independence104.1

Food Index

Columbus93.3
Independence95.5

Transportation Index

Columbus86.6
Independence90.9

Healthcare Index

Columbus94.6
Independence96.4

Utilities Index

Columbus97.1
Independence98.1

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Columbus$42,291
Independence$42,895

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Columbus$99,960
Independence$101,389

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Columbus$939
Independence$1,197

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Columbus$1,088
Independence$1,358

Housing Market — Independence leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Independence has a vacancy rate of 8.1% compared to 11.7% in Columbus. Columbus has a median property tax of $1,526 vs $1,856 in Independence (18% lower). Independence has a owner-occupied of 61.0% compared to 50.2% in Columbus.

Median Home Value

Columbus$182,300
Independence$166,400

Median Rent

Columbus$1,072
Independence$1,061

Median Property Tax

Columbus$1,526
Independence$1,856

Owner-Occupied

Columbus50.2%
Independence61.0%

Vacancy Rate

Columbus11.7%
Independence8.1%

Single-Family Homes

Columbus69.3%
Independence77.0%

Jobs & Economy — Independence leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbus: 96,126 vs Independence: 60,872 for labor force. Independence has a poverty rate of 15.3% compared to 18.8% in Columbus. Independence has a government sector of 46.4% compared to 36.1% in Columbus.

Median Household Income

Columbus$56,622
Independence$59,480

Per Capita Income

Columbus$32,811
Independence$31,683

Poverty Rate

Columbus18.8%
Independence15.3%

Unemployment Rate

Columbus6.5%
Independence6.0%

Labor Force

Columbus96,126
Independence60,872

Mean Commute

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Work from Home

Columbus9.3%
Independence10.1%

Private Sector

Columbus80.8%
Independence96.5%

Government Sector

Columbus36.1%
Independence46.4%

Crime & Safety — Columbus leads

Source: FBI UCR

Columbus has a property crime clearance of 21.2% compared to 10.2% in Independence. Independence has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.09 compared to 0.13 in Columbus. Columbus has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 22.36 compared to 35.24 in Independence.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Columbus6.08
Independence5.72

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Columbus22.36
Independence35.24

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Columbus0.13
Independence0.09

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Columbus0.51
Independence0.76

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Columbus5.15
Independence3.97

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Columbus3.54
Independence4.07

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Columbus16.36
Independence23.01

Violent Crime Clearance

Columbus37.9%
Independence32.6%

Property Crime Clearance

Columbus21.2%
Independence10.2%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Annual High

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Annual Low

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Sunny Days per Year

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Annual Rainfall

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Annual Snowfall

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Humidity

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Columbus has a bachelor's degree or higher of 19.6% compared to 14.3% in Independence. Independence has a high school diploma or higher of 39.9% compared to 37.3% in Columbus.

Public Schools

Columbus0
Independence0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Colleges & Universities

Columbus0
Independence0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Columbus19.6%
Independence14.3%

High School Diploma or Higher

Columbus37.3%
Independence39.9%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbus has a population of 204,383, about 1.7x the size of Independence (121,944). Columbus skews younger with a median age of 35.1 vs 38.4.

Population

Columbus204,383
Independence121,944

Median Age

Columbus35
Independence38

Avg Household Size

Columbus2.5
Independence2.4

Married Population

Columbus33.7%
Independence36.3%

Foreign Born

Columbus5.3%
Independence5.3%

White

Columbus39.3%
Independence72.2%

Black

Columbus46.7%
Independence10.8%

Hispanic

Columbus8.3%
Independence12.4%

Asian

Columbus2.6%
Independence1.4%

Columbus

Independence

Healthcare — Independence leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Independence: 5 vs Columbus: 4 for with emergency services. Independence: 3.4 vs Columbus: 3.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Columbus5
Independence5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Columbus3.0
Independence3.4

With Emergency Services

Columbus4
Independence5

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbus has a public transit of 0.8% compared to 0.3% in Independence. Independence has a work from home of 10.1% compared to 9.3% in Columbus. Independence has a drive alone of 81.2% compared to 76.6% in Columbus.

Mean Commute Time

ColumbusN/A
IndependenceN/A

Drive Alone

Columbus76.6%
Independence81.2%

Public Transit

Columbus0.8%
Independence0.3%

Bicycle

Columbus0.3%
Independence0.0%

Work from Home

Columbus9.3%
Independence10.1%

Airports

Columbus0
Independence0

Cities Similar to Columbus, GA

Compare Columbus 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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