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Living in
Columbia.
About
Life in Columbia
Columbia is a community of 10,217 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $54,437, median rent runs about $1,075 per month, and median home values are around $196,500. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Columbia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.4%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
83.6%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Columbia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbia, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (37.8%), and 11.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.5%
of residents
65 and Older
22.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.9%
of households
Married Couples
33.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
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 PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Columbia
In Columbia, rent runs 11% below the PA average, and home values are 23% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,732
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $289,633 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below PA average
Unemployment in Columbia
Unemployment in Lancaster County, which includes Columbia, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Columbia: Lancaster County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lancaster County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Columbia is about 2% of Lancaster County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Columbia Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.7 min avg
How Columbia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbia, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Lancaster Airport (LNS)
Regional airport · few flights19k passengers boarded in 2025
- 60 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M 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 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Columbia runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,263.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Columbia Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 47 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lancaster County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lancaster County, which includes Columbia, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 47 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $245,500 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $68,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $253,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $414,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $93,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $235,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $89,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lancaster County, county-wide
Columbia is about 2% of Lancaster County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lancaster County, which includes Columbia, is typically good — 221 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
221
per year
Moderate Days
142
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lancaster County, county-wide
Columbia is about 2% of Lancaster County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbia has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.8"
Annual Snowfall
23.2"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 19°F | 3.06" |
| Feb | 41°F | 20°F | 2.44" |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 3.61" |
| Apr | 63°F | 37°F | 3.56" |
| May | 73°F | 48°F | 3.87" |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 85°F | 61°F | 4.84" |
| Aug | 83°F | 59°F | 4.04" |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 4.68" |
| Oct | 65°F | 41°F | 4.17" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 3.24" |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 3.33" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbia
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Columbia's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Lancaster
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 9.6 mi away · Lancaster
Lancaster General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Lancaster
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbia
Columbia's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
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 · 1,868 students · in-state tuition $39,370 · 74% graduate · median earnings $66,572 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,799 students · in-state tuition $73,210 · 86% graduate · median earnings $81,484 (10 yrs after entry)
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
10.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,446 students · in-state tuition $9,050 · 62% graduate · median earnings $56,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
9.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 400 students · in-state tuition $33,309 · 61% graduate · median earnings $36,746 (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: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbia
Columbia has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appalachian National Scenic Trail (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
26 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
42 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
43 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayFirst State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
51 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
52 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbia
Columbia Public Library
24 South Sixth St, 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, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Columbia's median rent is $1,075/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,437/year. Median home value is $196,500.
Is Columbia, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Columbia's violent crime rate was 182 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 1263 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbia, Pennsylvania?⌄
Lancaster County, which includes Columbia, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbia, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Columbia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,075/month and median household income is $54,437/year. The median home value is $196,500. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbia, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Columbia 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