Columbia receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Staunton-Stuarts Draft
Columbia
Opportunity
67 · Top 28%
vs81 · Top 7%
Growth
58 · Top 37%
vs63 · Top 30%
Climate
70 · Top 37%
vs72 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
67 · Top 33%
vs77 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 37%
vs94 · Bottom 46%
Access
9 · Bottom 3%
vs2 · Bottom 2%
Economic stability
78 · Top 16%
vs62 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Staunton-Stuarts Draft | Columbia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 126,822 | 215,014 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,544 | $72,340 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,190 | $39,658 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 127/sq mi | 125/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $284,500 | $258,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $1,070 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.2% | 59.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 48.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 16.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 783 | 988 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.2 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.6% | -22.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.6" | 41.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 105 mi | 116 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 21.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.7 | 33.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Staunton-Stuarts Draft
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Columbia
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Staunton-Stuarts Draft
63
Your Score
67
Area Score
Columbia
64
Your Score
73
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA Metro Area · Columbia, MO Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology