Columbus, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Polk County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
1,166 Population 310/sq mi density
$56,083 Median Income $28,139 per capita
$210,100 Home Value $343,914 Zillow
$1,002 Median Rent 27.4% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$56,083 median income, 4.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$210,100 home value, $1,002/mo rent
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
0 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.8 / 5.0
22.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Columbus, NC

At a Glance

Median Income
$56,083
25% below
$28,139 per capita
Home Value
$210,100
25% below
Zillow: $343,914
Median Rent
$1,002/mo
14% below
27.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
0/100K
100% below
1,533/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%
33% below
84.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.7%
31% above
10.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.2%
10% above
13.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
60°F

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)

Income
75%
Home Value
75%
Rent
86%
Poverty
88%
Bachelor's
67%
Unemployment
131%
Crime
0%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Columbus a Good Place to Live?

B
3.3 / 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 4.7% (31% above 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 $343,914. 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 0 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 100% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,533/100K.

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. Annual precipitation totals 64.3 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population1,166
Median Age50.9 yrs
Density310/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born11.2%
Veterans4.7%

Economy

B
Median Income$56,083
Per Capita$28,139
Unemployment4.7%
Poverty10.9%
County GDP$734M
Avg Weekly Wage$891

Housing

A+
Home Value$210,100
Rent$1,002
Ownership59.8%
Zillow$343,914
Housing Units538
Rent Burden27.4%

Crime

C+
Violent0/100K
Property1,533/100K

Health

Obesity35.2%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking13.3%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death10,657/100K

Climate

Avg Temp60°F
Rain64.3 in/yr
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.
22.8% of the population has a disability.
11.2% 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.