Columbia, AL

Full City Profile · Alabama · Houston County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
769 Population 196/sq mi density
$55,417 Median Income $26,637 per capita
$151,300 Home Value $166,090 Zillow
$777 Median Rent 26.0% income on rent
67°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$55,417 median income, 6.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$151,300 home value, $777/mo rent
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
0 violent crimes/100K
F
Education
1.5 / 5.0
5.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Columbia, AL

At a Glance

Median Income
$55,417
26% below
$26,637 per capita
Home Value
$151,300
46% below
Zillow: $166,090
Median Rent
$777/mo
33% below
26.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
0/100K
100% below
711/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
5.7%
83% below
83.7% high school+
Unemployment
6.6%
83% above
11.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.4%
20% above
16.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
67°F

How Columbia Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Columbia's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
74%
Home Value
54%
Rent
67%
Poverty
95%
Bachelor's
17%
Unemployment
183%
Crime
0%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Columbia a Good Place to Live?

B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Columbia residents earn a median household income of $55,417 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $26,637. The unemployment rate stands at 6.6% (83% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,720 business establishments, including 295 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Columbia is $151,300 , 46% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $166,090. Median rent is $777/month, with 26.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1971.

Safety & Crime

Columbia reports 0 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 100% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 711/100K.

Education

5.7% of adults in Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher (83% below the national average). 83.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Columbia has an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 56.7 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population769
Median Age32.1 yrs
Density196/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born0.8%
Veterans4.2%

Economy

B
Median Income$55,417
Per Capita$26,637
Unemployment6.6%
Poverty11.8%
County GDP$8,043M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,029

Housing

A+
Home Value$151,300
Rent$777
Ownership79.1%
Zillow$166,090
Housing Units353
Rent Burden26.0%

Crime

C+
Violent0/100K
Property711/100K

Health

Obesity38.4%
Diabetes11.5%
Smoking16.2%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death11,251/100K

Climate

Avg Temp67°F
Rain56.7 in/yr
Elevation212 ft

Education

F
Bachelor's+5.7%
High School+83.7%
Graduate+3.7%
School Score5.0/10

Community

2024 VoteR 73% / D 26%
Commute32 min
Broadband79.1%
Internet Speed62 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Columbia was built in 1971.
The nearest airport is Dothan Regional (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.483 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
15.3% of the population has a disability.
There are 295 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 17 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.