City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Columbus, MS

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.

23,616
Residents
$40,588
Median income
$121,200
Median home
$872
Median rent (state)

Columbus - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Columbus places in the 8th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
2nd
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: Columbus, MS

Mississippi's Columbus is a small city, with 23,616 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Columbus brings in $40,588 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.0%. Home values in Columbus run a median of $121,200, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. 25.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 21 residential building permits were authorized in Columbus (Building Boom), up 163% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 65.4°F with 56.6 inches of precipitation per year and 0.4 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Mississippi run below the national norm: the state registers 87.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $872 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Mississippi, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 80.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

23,616 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$40,588 /yr

Poverty 20.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Columbus compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Columbus's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Mississippi, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

8thIncome percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Columbus's home value compares nationally

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

$121,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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. 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, MS Columbus, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbus, 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 Columbus, MS median $40,588/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, 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 Columbus, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.4%

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

Population
23,616
Median Income
$40,588
Median Home Value
$121,200
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
20.0%
Labor force participation
47.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
65.4°F
Annual Precipitation
56.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.4"

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 →
22,500 residents23,000 residents23,500 residents24,000 residents24,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 23,995 residents 22,792 residents ▼ -5.0%
Columbus's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
21
housing units authorized
Single-Family
21
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 14
2021 6
2022 8
2023 14
2024 21

Permit volume increased 163% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.7%
Carpool
4.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
5.3%

Based on 9,210 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 Columbus sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$872/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Ridgeland
24,548 people
Brandon
25,352 people
Pascagoula
21,812 people
Starkville
25,611 people
Oxford
26,086 people
Vicksburg
20,944 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbus's 23,616 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cartersville, GA
23,617 people
Ladera Ranch, CA
23,609 people
Jacksonville Beach, FL
23,601 people
Fernley, NV
23,631 people
Freeport, IL
23,636 people
Kenmore, WA
23,594 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbus's $40,588 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bethel Springs, TN
$40,592 median income
Malvern, AR
$40,602 median income
Post, TX
$40,606 median income
Harrison, AR
$40,568 median income
Kingston, OH
$40,609 median income
Saluda, SC
$40,567 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbus, 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 Columbus, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 31.7% 63.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.1% White 31.7% Black or African American 63.4% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 2.6% 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 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
Columbus (this city) 23,616 $40,588
Ridgeland 24,548 $63,470
Brandon 25,352 $93,073
Pascagoula 21,812 $43,286
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbus, MS?

What is the population of Columbus, MS? +

23,616 people live in Columbus, MS according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Columbus runs $40,588, 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 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 Columbus, MS? +

The median home value in Columbus is $121,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Columbus? +

The average annual temperature in Columbus runs 65.4°F, 56.6 inches of precipitation, and 0.4 inches of snowfall per year. 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 Editorial

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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.