At a Glance
Median Income
$52,271
$32,827 per capita
Home Value
$174,200
Zillow: $286,576
Median Rent
$1,064/mo
36.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
154/100K
2,197/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%
82.4% high school+
Unemployment
2.3%
11.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
43.8%
26.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
275 sunny days/yr
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)
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 $52,271 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $32,827. The unemployment rate stands at 2.3% (36% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 14,605 business establishments, including 1,139 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Columbia is $174,200 , 38% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $286,576. Median rent is $1,064/month, with 36.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Safety & Crime
Columbia reports 154 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 59% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,197/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
17.2% of adults in Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(49% below the national average).
82.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Columbia has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population10,217
Median Age45.4 yrs
Density4,239/mi²
Male / Female55% / 45%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$52,271
Per Capita$32,827
Unemployment2.3%
Poverty11.7%
County GDP$39,951M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,153
Housing
A+
Home Value$174,200
Rent$1,064
Ownership52.2%
Zillow$286,576
Housing Units4,925
Rent Burden36.0%
Crime
F
Violent154/100K
Property2,197/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault58/100K
Burglary626/100K
Health
Obesity43.8%
Diabetes16.0%
Smoking26.6%
Heart Disease8.6%
Premature Death6,922/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain45.2 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation347 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.2%
High School+82.4%
Graduate+4.0%
School Score6.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 57% / D 42%
Commute27 min
Broadband81.5%
Internet Speed130 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries17
Did You Know?
Columbia was founded in 1788.
The median home in Columbia was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Harrisburg International (18 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.428 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
19.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 130 Mbps.
There are 1,139 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 52 fatal vehicle crashes.
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