Living in Columbia, Tennessee
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Columbia · Census data 2020–2024
Columbia has 45,441 residents with a median age of 35.5. The median household income is $63,719 (8% lower than the Tennessee median), the median home value is $308,700, the median rent is $1,197/month.
Columbia at a glance
- Population
- 45,441
- Median age
- 35.5State: 38.9
- Median household income
- $63,719State: $69,595
- Median home value
- $308,700State: $286,700
- Median rent
- $1,197/moState: $1,189
- Homeowners
- 63.3%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25.4%
- Average commute
- 28 min
Is Columbia a good place to live?
Pros: Unemployment of 2.6%.
Cons: Median household income 8% lower than the Tennessee median; home values 8% higher than the state median; an average commute of 28 minutes; a poverty rate of 14.2%.
The weather is best in April–May and September–October.
Cost of living in Columbia
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Columbia the median home value is $308,700, 7% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,197 per month, which is 30% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,548 a month in housing costs.
Columbia median household income
The median household income in Columbia is $63,719 and the income per person is $32,500. 14.2% of residents live below the poverty line (Tennessee: 13.8%).
Housing in Columbia: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 19,918
- Owner-occupied
- 63.3%
- Renter-occupied
- 36.7%
- Vacant
- 9.4%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1981
- Average household size
- 2.46
Columbia demographics
- Population
- 45,441
- Median age
- 35.5
- Under 18
- 25.6%
- 65 and older
- 15.5%
- Households
- 18,039
- Foreign-born
- 4.5%
- Veterans
- 6.2%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Columbia ›
Education in Columbia
25.4% of adults 25 and older in Columbia have a bachelor's degree or higher (Tennessee: 31.1%), and 7.7% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Columbia
- Unemployment rate
- 2.6%State: 4.7%
- Average commute
- 28 minState: 26 min
- Work from home
- 12.8%
- Drive alone
- 76.1%
- Public transit
- 0.1%
- Walk to work
- 2.2%
- Homes with broadband
- 91.1%
Columbia vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 45,441 | $63,719 | $308,700 | $1,197 |
| Mount Pleasant | 4,837 | $50,108 | $244,400 | $839 |
| Spring Hill | 55,765 | $112,013 | $493,800 | $1,844 |
| Thompson's Station | 8,294 | $132,647 | $700,500 | $2,088 |
| Lynnville | 465 | $63,333 | $175,000 | $718 |
| Lewisburg | 12,861 | $48,341 | $225,700 | $872 |
| Chapel Hill | 1,712 | $75,441 | $311,100 | $1,097 |
| Summertown | 733 | $89,688 | $213,500 | $895 |
| Cornersville | 1,847 | $64,375 | $236,700 | $937 |
More for people moving to Columbia
Columbia ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Columbia: FAQ
What is the median household income in Columbia, TN?
The median household income in Columbia is $63,719, 8% lower than the Tennessee median of $69,595 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Columbia?
The median home value in Columbia is $308,700, compared with $286,700 in Tennessee.
How much is rent in Columbia?
The median gross rent in Columbia is $1,197 per month, about 30% of household income.
Is Columbia, TN a good place to live?
Pluses: unemployment of 2.6%. Minuses: median household income 8% lower than the Tennessee median; home values 8% higher than the state median; an average commute of 28 minutes; a poverty rate of 14.2%.
What is the median age in Columbia?
The median age in Columbia is 35.5 years (Tennessee: 38.9).
How long is the commute in Columbia?
The average commute to work in Columbia is 28 minutes; 12.8% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Columbia?
The unemployment rate in Columbia is 2.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Columbia?
25.4% of adults in Columbia have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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