City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Columbia, MS

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.

5,804
Residents
$34,328
Median income
$112,100
Median home
$860
Median rent (state)

Columbia - the verdict

Columbia ranks in the 4th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

4th
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, MS

Columbia is a small town in Mississippi, home to 5,804 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Columbia households earn a median of $34,328 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.6%. Home values in Columbia run a median of $112,100, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. About 12.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 41.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. NOAA puts Columbia's yearly average temperature at 66.5°F with 61.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Mississippi run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Mississippi at 87.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $860 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Mississippi, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 60.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

5,804 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$34,328 /yr

Poverty 19.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Columbia compare to other US cities?

Where Columbia sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 4% 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 Mississippi only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Mississippi-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of Mississippi's city distribution

Among the 394 Mississippi cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Columbia ranks #258 - the 34th 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
#272 of 345
21st percentile in Mississippi
Median Gross Rent
#193 of 395
51st percentile in Mississippi
Median Home Value
#163 of 348
53rd percentile in Mississippi
Poverty Rate
#172 of 393
56th percentile in Mississippi
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#258 of 394
34th percentile in Mississippi

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

4thIncome percentile

4th 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+)

$112,100 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, MS Columbia, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia, MS-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, MS median $34,328/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, MS'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, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.7%

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

Population
5,804
Median Income
$34,328
Median Home Value
$112,100
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Labor force participation
41.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
66.5°F
Annual Precipitation
61.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,500 residents6,600 residents6,700 residents6,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,765 residents 6,525 residents ▼ -3.5%
Columbia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 3
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.8%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
9.8%

Based on 1,863 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$135
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$860/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Pontotoc
5,717 people
Pass Christian
5,942 people
Louisville
6,018 people
Leakesville
5,564 people
Ripley
5,415 people
Forest
5,365 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's 5,804 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Weiser, ID
5,803 people
Ephraim, UT
5,805 people
South Hooksett, NH
5,806 people
Patterson, LA
5,801 people
Preston, ID
5,800 people
Medina, NY
5,799 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's $34,328 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Los Molinos, CA
$34,324 median income
Ford Heights, IL
$34,323 median income
Skidway Lake, MI
$34,320 median income
Browning, MT
$34,318 median income
Jackson, KY
$34,317 median income
Lewis, IA
$34,341 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia, MS 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, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 56.6% 40.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 56.6% Black or African American 40.9% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% 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 Mississippi 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) 5,804 $34,328
Pontotoc 5,717 $50,230
Pass Christian 5,942 $74,302
Louisville 6,018 $37,679
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia, MS?

What is the population of Columbia, MS? +

5,804 people live in Columbia, MS according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Columbia is $34,328 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 Mississippi state average, a cost of living index of 87.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Mississippi vary by metro area.

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

The median home value in Columbia is $112,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Columbia? +

The average annual temperature in Columbia runs 66.5°F, 61.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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