City Comparison
Columbus vs Starkville
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Columbus scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Columbus
Starkville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Columbus is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
40% lower than in Starkville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Columbus's average rent is
53% lower than Starkville's.
| Metric | Columbus | Starkville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $848 | $1,800 | -53% |
| Groceries | $350 | $450 | -22% |
| Utilities | $160 | $180 | -11% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $250 | -16% |
| Monthly Total | $1,678 | $2,800 | -40% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Starkville offers 26% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Starkville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Columbus is estimated at
$35,000 vs $55,000 in Starkville.
| Metric | Columbus | Starkville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 56,471 idx | 68,421 idx |
| Household Income | $42,235 | $42,125 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.40000000000001°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Starkville sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Columbus | Starkville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 65.70°F | 65.30°F |
| Summer High | 89.60°F | 89.40°F |
| Winter Low | 37.40°F | 37.00°F |
| Rainfall | 54.90 in | 49.20 in |
| Snowfall | 2.70 in | 2.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 249 | 248 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Columbus has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Starkville.
Starkville scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Columbus leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Columbus | Starkville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 25.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 35.0/100 | 29.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Starkville is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Columbus.
From a growth perspective, Columbus is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Columbus has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Columbus | Starkville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,348 | 25,753 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 26.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.90% | 6.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Columbus
Advantages
Average monthly rent of $848 is significantly lower than the national average per Apartments.com 2026 data.
Home to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, offering robust regional healthcare access.
Rich historical heritage featuring dozens of preserved antebellum homes and vibrant cultural events.
Short average commute times of roughly 19 to 21 minutes per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Strategic location within the growing Golden Triangle economic development zone.
Drawbacks
Median household income of $42,235 trails well behind national benchmarks per Census Bureau figures.
High reliance on personal vehicles due to limited public transit options.
Poverty rate of approximately 21.3% presents ongoing socioeconomic challenges for the municipality.
Limited walkability scores outside of specific historic downtown zones.
Vulnerability to humid subtropical summer climate extremes with high seasonal temperatures.
Starkville
Advantages
Affordable cost of living, with an index of 95, making it slightly less expensive than the national average.
Strong educational environment and cultural vibrancy driven by Mississippi State University.
Low violent crime rate, making it one of the safer cities in the nation in this regard.
Friendly community atmosphere and Southern hospitality, contributing to a welcoming environment.
Significant economic contribution from tourism, with nearly $200 million in visitor spending in 2024.
Drawbacks
High car dependency for most transportation needs, with a walkability score of 29.
Job market heavily reliant on the university and specific industries like education and manufacturing.
Limited public transportation options outside of university routes.
OCH Regional Medical Center has received mixed ratings, with an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
Median rent is approximately $1,800 per month, which can be a significant cost for some residents.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Columbus
#366Mississippi, USA
59.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$848
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
35.0/100
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
65.70°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
67
Business
64
Starkville
#371Mississippi, USA
59.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
29.0/100
Sunny Days
248/yr
Avg Temp
65.30°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
6.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
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