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Living in
Columbus.
About
Life in Columbus
Columbus offers a genuinely livable small city experience without feeling isolated—Indianapolis is close enough for occasional day trips, but you're far enough away to avoid urban sprawl and congestion. The architecture scene is legitimately world-class and shapes daily life here; you'll see stunning modernist buildings by major architects woven into the everyday landscape, which gives the place an unusual cultural identity. Housing is very affordable compared to regional standards, with median home values around $244,000 and median rent at $1,157 monthly, while median household income sits at $76,856.
Columbus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Foreign-Born
15.9%
Broadband Internet
94.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Columbus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbus, the largest foreign-born group is from India (35.4%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.6%
of households
Married Couples
47.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 9% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Columbus
In Columbus, rent runs 9% above the IN average, and home values are 12% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,037
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $278,652 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Columbus
Unemployment in Columbus is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Columbus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.4 min avg
How Columbus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbus, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M 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 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Columbus runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
87.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,228.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Columbus Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
70.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bartholomew County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bartholomew County, which includes Columbus, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.2M |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $62,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $450,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Storm | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Heavy Snow | $177,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $179,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $191,500 |
| 2018 | 6 | Flood | $53,700 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bartholomew County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bartholomew County, which includes Columbus, is typically good — 265 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
265
per year
Moderate Days
100
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bartholomew County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbus has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.3"
Annual Snowfall
16.3"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 3.42" |
| Feb | 43°F | 24°F | 2.91" |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 3.78" |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 5.00" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.99" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 5.31" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.54" |
| Aug | 85°F | 63°F | 3.48" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 68°F | 44°F | 3.39" |
| Nov | 54°F | 34°F | 3.60" |
| Dec | 43°F | 26°F | 3.71" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbus
Columbus has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Columbus Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbus
Columbus's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 40.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 76 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbus
Columbus has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (76 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
76 mi awayGeorge Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
94 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbus
Bartholomew County Public Library
536 Fifth Street, Columbus
Cities Near Columbus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Columbus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Columbus FAQ
Is Columbus, Indiana affordable?⌄
Columbus's median rent is $1,157/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,456/year. Median home value is $244,200.
Is Columbus, Indiana safe?⌄
Columbus's violent crime rate was 88 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1228 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbus, Indiana?⌄
Columbus has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbus, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Columbus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,157/month and median household income is $77,456/year. The median home value is $244,200. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbus, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Columbus is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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