City · Kentucky
Columbia, Kentucky
Columbia, city, in Adair County, Kentucky. Columbia had 4,680 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,845 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,808 (±26). GEOID 2116750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,680
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,845 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,808 ±26
Median household income
$47,299
±$10,981 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$143,600
±$41,622 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$757
±$119 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Columbia and what county is it in?
Columbia is a city in Adair County, Kentucky. It covers 4.9 square miles of land, 994 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Columbia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,680 people lived in Columbia on July 1, 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 4,845 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,808 (±26).
| Measure | Columbia | Adair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,808 ±26 | 19,089 | +155 |
| Households | 1,567 ±168 | 7,136 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.33 ±0.25 | 2.51 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,819 ±176 | 8,648 | no clear change |
Columbia's population since 2000
From 4,014 in 2000 to 4,680 in 2025: up 16.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Columbia as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbia?
The median resident of Columbia is 28.2 years old; 14.0% are under 18 and 17.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.2%. 9.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Columbia | Adair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 ±5.6 | 39.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.0% ±3.7 pts | 19.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.0% ±3.6 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Male | 49.6% ±4.0 pts | 50.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.2% ±4.2 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.4% ±4.9 pts | 90.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±1.7 pts | 2.1% | −4.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±2.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.4% ±4.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.7% ±2.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7% ±1.6 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 26.1% ±4.9 pts | 22.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±2.1 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.7% ±5.5 pts | 84.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.3% ±6.6 pts | 21.8% | +10.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.4% ±6.8 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 70.6% ±5.1 pts | 85.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.3% ±2.2 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Columbia earn?
Half of Columbia's 1,567 households earn less than $47,299 a year (±$10,981), against $53,553 in Adair County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $43,025 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Columbia | Adair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,299 ±$10,981 | $53,553 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,432 ±$25,919 | $71,223 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,780 ±$8,858 | $28,489 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.3% ±6.9 pts | 18.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.0% ±12.7 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.0% ±8.1 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.0% ±5.8 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.8% ±5.5 pts | 85.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Columbia?
Owners occupy 48.6% of Columbia's occupied homes and renters 51.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,600 by its owner (±$41,622). The median renter pays $757 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Columbia | Adair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $143,600 ±$41,622 | $150,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $757 ±$119 | $771 | +$161 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 23.3% ±15.6 pts | 30.8% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,174 ±$152 | $1,174 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.6% ±10.5 pts | 77.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.4% ±10.5 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Housing units | 1,819 ±176 | 8,648 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% ±4.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.4% ±8.1 pts | 73.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.2% ±4.6 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5% ±4.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.9% ±4.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.4% ±5.4 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Columbia building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Columbia in 2025 (6 in single-family houses), 1.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.2 across Kentucky.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Columbia work and get to work?
62.8% of Columbia's workers drive alone and 16.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.3 minutes.
| Measure | Columbia | Adair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.3% ±6.2 pts | 54.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±3.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 62.8% ±9.4 pts | 71.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.3% ±6.5 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 5.2% ±2.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.8% ±8.5 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.3 min ±2.5 | 23.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Columbia?
1 census tract lies mostly in Columbia, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9704.02Adair County | 4,509 | $53,711 |
| Tract 9704.01Adair County | 4,338 | $55,557 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Columbia) · Census block assignment files
How does Columbia compare with other places in Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Columbia is the 5,084th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 85th-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Columbia ranks 160th of 230 places in Kentucky with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 85th | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 178th | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 126th | 232 |
| Median household income | 160th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 150th | 232 |
| Median home value | 149th | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 141st | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 114th | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 94th | 223 |
| Median age | 222nd | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 188th | 229 |
| Work from home | 30th | 130 |
| Travel time to work | 222nd | 232 |
Columbia's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, sortable · Compare Columbia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Columbia?
13 of the 57 figures for Columbia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Columbia.