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Living in
Columbia Heights.
About
Life in Columbia Heights
Living in Columbia Heights means settling into a first-ring Minneapolis suburb that's genuinely walkable in parts but still requires a car for most daily errands. The downtown core around 40th Avenue and Central Avenue has actual character—the historic Heights Theater, county offices, and a decent collection of local businesses line the main streets, so you're not entirely dependent on driving to a mall. Housing costs sit in the mid-$250K range for homes, with rents around $1,295 monthly, which is reasonable for the Twin Cities metro—you get more space and yard here than in Minneapolis proper without paying a premium.
Columbia Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Foreign-Born
22.2%
Broadband Internet
90.3%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.2% foreign-born, most often from Somalia
Who lives in Columbia Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbia Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Somalia (25.2%), and 14.8% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.0%
of households
Married Couples
32.5%
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 about average for MN
Rent, home values, and income in Columbia Heights
In Columbia Heights, home values are 16% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
41.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,003
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $296,449 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Columbia Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Anoka County, which includes Columbia Heights, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Columbia Heights: Anoka County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Anoka County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Columbia Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute23.6 min avg
How Columbia Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbia Heights, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M 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 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Columbia Heights runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
243.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,413.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Columbia Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anoka County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anoka County, which includes Columbia Heights, the most common type is winter storm, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2021 | 4 | Hail | $2,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Winter Storm | $65,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Winter Storm | $30,000 |
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
Anoka County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anoka County, which includes Columbia Heights, is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
85
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Anoka County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbia Heights has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
56°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
25°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.0"
Annual Snowfall
40.4"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 8°F | 0.95" |
| Feb | 27°F | 12°F | 0.89" |
| Mar | 40°F | 24°F | 1.65" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 3.31" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.84" |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 4.58" |
| Aug | 80°F | 62°F | 4.45" |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 56°F | 41°F | 2.99" |
| Nov | 40°F | 27°F | 1.71" |
| Dec | 27°F | 15°F | 1.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbia Heights
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Columbia Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Memorial Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Robbinsdale
Hennepin County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Minneapolis
M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Minneapolis
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.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Columbia Heights (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
5.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
10 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,201 students · in-state tuition $6,750 · 26% graduate · median earnings $53,668 (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: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
10 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
62 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights Public Library
3939 Central Avenue Ne, Columbia Heights
Cities Near Columbia Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Columbia Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Columbia Heights FAQ
Is Columbia Heights, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Columbia Heights's median rent is $1,295/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,691/year. Median home value is $277,600.
Is Columbia Heights, Minnesota safe?⌄
Columbia Heights's violent crime rate was 243 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1413 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbia Heights, Minnesota?⌄
Anoka County, which includes Columbia Heights, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbia Heights, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Columbia Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,295/month and median household income is $73,691/year. The median home value is $277,600. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbia Heights, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Columbia Heights is 24 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