At a Glance
Median Income
$56,083
$28,139 per capita
Home Value
$210,100
Zillow: $335,414
Median Rent
$1,002/mo
27.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
101/100K
4,724/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%
84.9% high school+
Unemployment
2.4%
10.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.2%
13.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
60°F
302 sunny days/yr
How Columbus Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Columbus's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Columbus 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
Columbus residents earn a median household income of $56,083 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,139. The unemployment rate stands at 2.4% (33% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 707 business establishments, including 57 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Columbus is $210,100 , 25% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $335,414. Median rent is $1,002/month, with 27.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1972.
Safety & Crime
Columbus reports 101 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 74% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,724/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
22.7% of adults in Columbus hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(33% below the national average).
84.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Columbus has an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C).
Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 64.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population1,166
Median Age50.9 yrs
Density310/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$56,083
Per Capita$28,139
Unemployment2.4%
Poverty10.9%
County GDP$734M
Avg Weekly Wage$891
Housing
A+
Home Value$210,100
Rent$1,002
Ownership59.8%
Zillow$335,414
Housing Units538
Rent Burden27.4%
Crime
F
Violent101/100K
Property4,724/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault101/100K
Burglary905/100K
Health
Obesity35.2%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking13.3%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death10,657/100K
Climate
Avg Temp60°F
Sunny Days302/yr
Rain64.4 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation1,078 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.7%
High School+84.9%
Graduate+8.2%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 62% / D 37%
Commute22 min
Broadband74.1%
Internet Speed115 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Columbus was built in 1972.
The nearest airport is Asheville Regional (23 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.462 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
20.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 115 Mbps.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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