Columbia or Greenville: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Columbia wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Columbia 3:1
- Climate and risks: tie 2:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Columbia
Indicator
Greenville
Money
Better: Columbia (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$61,458
20245% higher
✗$58,742
20244% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,557
2026-09-30almost equal
$1,566
2026-09-30almost equal
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$252,979
2026-09-3019% lower
✗$312,032
2026-09-3023% higher
Price level
lower is better
93.7 100 = US average
2024almost equal
✓93.3 100 = US average
2024almost equal
Climate and risks
Tie (2 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓47 AQI
20244% lower
✗49 AQI
20244% higher
Days with unhealthy air
tie
1 days per year
2024
1 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗147 days per year
2016-202555% higher
✓94 days per year
2016-202536% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2016-202589% lower
✗1 days per year
2016-2025800% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
960 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,476 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,593 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,072 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
94 days per year
2016-2025
97 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,247 mm per year
2016-2025
1,366 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
69 %
2021-2025
65 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗88 days per year
2021-202594% higher
✓45 days per year
2021-202548% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
166 km
2006-2025
303 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
870,193 people
2024
996,680 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Columbia, Greenville.