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Living in
Columbia.
About
Life in Columbia
Columbia is a community of 11,063 people in Illinois. The median household income is $107,922, median rent runs about $1,128 per month, and median home values are around $290,100. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Columbia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
0.6%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.6% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Columbia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbia, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (37.1%), and 2.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.4%
of households
Married Couples
60.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Columbia
In Columbia, rent runs 11% below the IL average, and home values are 11% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,356
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $342,613 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Columbia and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Monroe County, which includes Columbia, is 1.6 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Columbia: Monroe County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Monroe County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Columbia Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute26.4 min avg
How Columbia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbia, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV)
Regional airport · few flights193k passengers boarded in 2025
- 23 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 93% below national average
Crime rates for 2020
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2020. It's compared with the national rate for 2020.
Violent crime in Columbia runs 93% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
28.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (399 national, 2020)
Property Crime Rate
1,009
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,955 national, 2020)
Columbia Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
41.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Monroe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Monroe County, which includes Columbia, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Hail | $259,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Hail | $16,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 2 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Monroe County, county-wide
Air Quality55 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in St. Louis city, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 12 miles from Columbia) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
55
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
232
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: St. Louis city, MO (12 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbia has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.8"
Annual Snowfall
13.8"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
97
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 22°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 46°F | 26°F | 2.26" |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 3.55" |
| Apr | 68°F | 45°F | 4.63" |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 4.80" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.30" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 5.02" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 3.09" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 3.35" |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.04" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.33" |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 2.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbia
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Columbia's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Hospital South
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Saint Louis
Touchette Regional Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Centreville
St Louis Forensic Treatment Center
Psychiatric · 10.8 mi away · Saint Louis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbia
Columbia's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 49.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Columbia (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,267 students · in-state tuition $57,960 · 76% graduate · median earnings $75,998 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,304 students · in-state tuition $32,690 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,096 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 960 students · in-state tuition $7,008 · 29% graduate · median earnings $39,919 (10 yrs after entry)
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
12.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 446 students · 93% graduate · median earnings $82,420 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
12.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 337 students · in-state tuition $33,189 · 72% graduate · median earnings $130,161 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbia
Columbia has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
12 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
95 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
97 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbia
Columbia Public Library
106 North Metter Avenue, Columbia
Cities Near Columbia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Columbia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Columbia FAQ
Is Columbia, Illinois affordable?⌄
Columbia's median rent is $1,128/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $107,606/year. Median home value is $293,000.
Is Columbia, Illinois safe?⌄
Columbia's violent crime rate was 28 per 100,000 residents in 2020, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 399/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1009 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbia, Illinois?⌄
Monroe County, which includes Columbia, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbia, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Columbia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,128/month and median household income is $107,606/year. The median home value is $293,000. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbia, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Columbia is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from