City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Columbus, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Columbus - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

51,104
Residents
$76,856
Median income
$231,000
Median home
$1,415
Median rent (state)

Columbus - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Columbus places in the 58th percentile for household income and the 98th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

58th
percentile, household income
51st
percentile, home value
56th
percentile, median rent
98th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Columbus, IN

Columbus is a small city in Indiana, home to 51,104 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $76,856 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Columbus's housing stock carries a median value of $231,000, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. Educational attainment runs 41.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Columbus reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 96.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 54.1°F with 47.3 inches of precipitation per year and 16.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Indiana scores 93.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,415 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Indiana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 15.9 minutes, with 74.6% driving alone and 13.3% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 70.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

51,104 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$76,856 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Columbus compare to other US cities?

Here's how Columbus stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 58% higher than other cities
Home value 51% pricier than other cities
Median rent 56% pricier than other cities
Safety 98% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Indiana alone, Columbus ranks #2 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Columbus against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Columbus's strongest outlier among Indiana cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Columbus ranks #70 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Columbus only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#200 of 766
74th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#88 of 850
88th percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#115 of 771
85th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#314 of 849
62nd percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#70 of 850
92nd percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

58thIncome percentile
98thSafety percentile

58th percentile nationally for median household income · 98th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Columbus's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Columbus's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Columbus's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Columbus's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$231,000 49th percentile more affordable than 49% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Columbus $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Columbus, IN Columbus, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbus, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Columbus, IN median $76,856/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Columbus, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Columbus, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
51,104
Median Income
$76,856
Median Home Value
$231,000
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
63.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
96.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
13.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
82.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.1°F
Annual Precipitation
47.3"
Annual Snowfall
16.3"

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
50,000 residents51,000 residents52,000 residents53,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 50,538 residents 52,655 residents ▲ +4.2%
Columbus's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.9 minutes
Drive Alone
74.6%
Carpool
8.9%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
13.3%
Other
1.2%

Based on 25,342 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Columbus sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,415/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
70.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Westfield
51,109 people
Mishawaka
50,907 people
Jeffersonville
50,176 people
Lawrence
49,284 people
Elkhart
53,726 people
Anderson
54,930 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbus's 51,104 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Troy, NY
51,054 people
Hoffman Estates, IL
51,186 people
Wake Forest, NC
51,199 people
Tamiami, FL
51,201 people
Country Club, FL
51,000 people
Collierville, TN
51,212 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbus's $76,856 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Plaquemine, LA
$76,857 median income
Stockton, CA
$76,851 median income
Ceres, CA
$76,862 median income
Abernathy, TX
$76,850 median income
Holiday Lake, IA
$76,863 median income
Edwardsville, KS
$76,847 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbus, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Columbus, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.4% 11.8% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.0% White 74.4% Black or African American 2.4% Asian 11.8% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 6.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Columbus compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Columbus (this city) 51,104 $76,856
Westfield 51,109 $119,598
Mishawaka 50,907 $53,120
Jeffersonville 50,176 $70,157
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbus, IN?

What is the population of Columbus, IN? +

The population of Columbus, IN stands at 51,104 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbus, IN? +

The median household income in Columbus is $76,856 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Columbus? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Columbus; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Columbus, IN safe? +

Columbus has a total crime rate of 96.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Columbus, IN? +

The median home value in Columbus is $231,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Columbus? +

Columbus has an average annual temperature of 54.1°F, 47.3 inches of precipitation, and 16.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.