City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Columbia Heights, MN

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

22,016
Residents
$74,688
Median income
$259,900
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Columbia Heights - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Columbia Heights places in the 56th percentile for household income and the 22nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

56th
percentile, household income
58th
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
22nd
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: Columbia Heights, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 22,016 residents in Columbia Heights, a small city within Minnesota. The typical household in Columbia Heights brings in $74,688 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.0%. Home values in Columbia Heights run a median of $259,900, and the median resident age is 36.6 years. Educational attainment runs 32.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2506.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,709 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

22,016 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$74,688 /yr

Poverty 11.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Columbia Heights compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 58% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities
Safety 22% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, Columbia Heights ranks #203 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Minnesota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Columbia Heights toward the top of Minnesota's cities

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Columbia Heights ranks #167 - the 78th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Columbia Heights only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#307 of 775
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#202 of 774
74th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#167 of 785
78th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#172 of 784
78th percentile in Minnesota

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

56thIncome percentile
22ndSafety percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income · 22nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Columbia Heights's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Columbia Heights'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 38 Avg. percentile National median
Columbia Heights'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 Columbia Heights's home value compares nationally

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

$259,900 42nd percentile more affordable than 42% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Heights $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 Heights, MN Columbia Heights, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia Heights, MN-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 Heights, MN median $74,688/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 Heights, MN'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 Heights, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.2%

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

Population
22,016
Median Income
$74,688
Median Home Value
$259,900
Median Age
36.6
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Labor force participation
67.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2506.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
321.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2185.0
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.

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
21,800 residents22,000 residents22,200 residents22,400 residents22,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 21,942 residents 22,482 residents ▲ +2.5%
Columbia Heights's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 2
2021 297
2022 63
2023 1
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.4%
Carpool
5.8%
Public Transit
4.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
17.7%
Other
3.1%

Based on 11,449 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Hastings
22,050 people
Golden Valley
21,927 people
Lino Lakes
21,847 people
New Hope
21,402 people
Otsego
21,358 people
Crystal
22,685 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia Heights's 22,016 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Winter Gardens, CA
22,003 people
East Ridge, TN
22,034 people
Chambersburg, PA
22,051 people
Langley Park, MD
22,057 people
Oxford, AL
22,063 people
Mililani Mauka, HI
21,967 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia Heights's $74,688 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cameron, NC
$74,688 median income
Wayne, OH
$74,688 median income
Schofield Barracks, HI
$74,695 median income
Birdsboro, PA
$74,698 median income
Lenape Heights, PA
$74,700 median income
Chester, IL
$74,673 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia Heights, MN 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 Heights, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.4% 24.9% 10.6% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.3% White 53.4% Black or African American 24.9% Asian 4.8% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 10.6% Two or more races 6.0% 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 Heights compares to nearby Minnesota 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 Heights (this city) 22,016 $74,688
Hastings 22,050 $92,940
Golden Valley 21,927 $114,435
Lino Lakes 21,847 $121,800
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia Heights, MN?

What is the population of Columbia Heights, MN? +

22,016 people live in Columbia Heights, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbia Heights, MN? +

Columbia Heights households earn a median of $74,688 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia Heights? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Columbia Heights; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Columbia Heights, MN safe? +

Columbia Heights has a total crime rate of 2506.3 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Columbia Heights, MN? +

Columbia Heights's median home value sits at $259,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.