City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Columbia, LA

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

337
Residents
$50,000
Median income
$113,100
Median home
$834
Median rent (state)

Columbia - the verdict

Nationally, Columbia sits in the 19th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Columbia, LA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 337 residents in Columbia, a small town within Louisiana. The typical household in Columbia brings in $50,000 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.3%. Columbia's housing stock carries a median value of $113,100, and the median resident age is 31.6 years. 19.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 49.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 4 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Louisiana at 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $834 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Louisiana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 10.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

337 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$50,000 /yr

Poverty 1.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Columbia compare to other US cities?

Columbia measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Louisiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Columbia near the bottom of Louisiana's cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Columbia ranks #376 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Columbia only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#217 of 426
49th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#376 of 477
0th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#267 of 419
36th percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#433 of 475
8th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#164 of 477
65th percentile in Louisiana

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 Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Columbia's home value compares nationally

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

$113,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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. Columbia $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 - Columbia, LA Columbia, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia, LA-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 Columbia, LA median $50,000/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%
Columbia, LA'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 Columbia, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.0%

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

Population
337
Median Income
$50,000
Median Home Value
$113,100
Median Age
31.6
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Labor force participation
49.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
260 residents265 residents270 residents275 residents280 residents 202020212022202320242025 277 residents 262 residents ▼ -5.4%
Columbia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.2%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.8%
Work from Home
8.8%
Other
4.0%

Based on 125 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana 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 Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Columbia sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$834/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
10.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Branch
338 people
Forest
336 people
Good Pine
338 people
Hosston
334 people
Bayou Goula
342 people
Pointe a la Hache
344 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's 337 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Viola, AR
337 people
Caspar, CA
337 people
Laurel Hill, FL
337 people
Ludlow, IL
337 people
Moro, IL
337 people
Johnson, IN
337 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's $50,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Paint Rock, AL
$50,000 median income
Woodville, AL
$50,000 median income
Adak, AK
$50,000 median income
Calhan, CO
$50,000 median income
Baldwin, IL
$50,000 median income
Kingston Mines, IL
$50,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia, LA 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 Columbia, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.2% 22.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.9% White 74.2% Black or African American 22.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 1.5% 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 Columbia compares to nearby Louisiana cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Columbia (this city) 337 $50,000
Branch 338 $52,593
Forest 336 $45,625
Good Pine 338 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia, LA?

What is the population of Columbia, LA? +

The population of Columbia, LA stands at 337 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbia, LA? +

In Columbia, the typical household earns $50,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Columbia; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Columbia, LA? +

A typical home in Columbia is worth $113,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.