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Living in
Columbia.
About
Life in Columbia
Columbia feels like a city in transition—it's growing steadily with a 14.6% population increase, but it hasn't lost its small-town character yet. The antebellum homes and Mule Day festivals give the place real historical identity, though day-to-day life is more about suburban living than tourism. Housing is reasonably affordable compared to Nashville proper, with median homes around $309,000 and rentals at $1,092 per month, though you're looking at a 27.6-minute average commute if you're working elsewhere in the metro area.
Columbia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Foreign-Born
4.5%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
+20.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Columbia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.2%), and 7.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
41.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 TN
Rent, home values, and income in Columbia
In Columbia, home values are 8% above the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,546
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $369,414 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above TN average
Unemployment in Columbia and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Columbia is 0.6 percentage points higher than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · 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
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area
Commute28 min avg
How Columbia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbia, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M 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 13% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Columbia runs 13% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
370.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,497.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Columbia Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Maury County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Maury County, which includes Columbia, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Flash Flood | $932,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Drought | $10.3M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $801,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Winter Storm | $21,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $363,900 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $757,630 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $238,000 |
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
Maury County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Maury County, which includes Columbia, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
59
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Maury County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbia has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
41
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 27°F | 4.60" |
| Feb | 52°F | 29°F | 5.11" |
| Mar | 62°F | 36°F | 5.43" |
| Apr | 71°F | 44°F | 5.10" |
| May | 79°F | 54°F | 5.17" |
| Jun | 86°F | 62°F | 4.98" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.75" |
| Aug | 88°F | 65°F | 4.09" |
| Sep | 83°F | 58°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 72°F | 45°F | 3.78" |
| Nov | 60°F | 35°F | 3.87" |
| Dec | 51°F | 30°F | 5.64" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbia
Columbia has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
9.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Maury Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Unity Psychiatric Care-columbia
Psychiatric
Pinewood Springs
Psychiatric
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbia
Columbia's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Columbia
Columbia State Community College
Public · 2-year · 3,897 students · in-state tuition $5,104 · 31% graduate · median earnings $44,553 (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: Stones River National Battlefield, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbia
Columbia has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Stones River National Battlefield (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
39 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
77 mi awayShiloh National Military Park
National Military Park
80 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbia
Maury County Public Library
211 West Eighth Street, 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, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Columbia's median rent is $1,197/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,719/year. Median home value is $308,700.
Is Columbia, Tennessee safe?⌄
Columbia's violent crime rate was 371 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1498 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbia, Tennessee?⌄
Columbia has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbia, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Columbia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,197/month and median household income is $63,719/year. The median home value is $308,700. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbia, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Columbia is 28 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