City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Columbia, NC

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.

674
Residents
$21,118
Median income
$120,700
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Columbia - the verdict

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

1st
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
7th
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, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 674 residents in Columbia, a small town within North Carolina. Columbia households earn a median of $21,118 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 38.1%. Typical homes in Columbia are valued around $120,700, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. 16.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Columbia (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $925 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 46.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

674 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$21,118 /yr

Poverty 38.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina 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 1% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% 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 Columbia'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 North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

1stIncome percentile

1st 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+)

$120,700 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. 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, NC Columbia, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia, NC-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, NC median $21,118/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, NC'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, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 38.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.8%

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

Population
674
Median Income
$21,118
Median Home Value
$120,700
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
38.1%
Labor force participation
56.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
608 residents610 residents612 residents614 residents616 residents618 residents 202020212022202320242025 612 residents 613 residents ▲ +0.2%
Columbia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 3

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
65.8%
Carpool
30.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
0.8%

Based on 263 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
46.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Saluda
676 people
Robbinsville
677 people
Sedalia
680 people
Ingold
667 people
Sandyfield
683 people
Duck
662 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's 674 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Martin, LA
674 people
Marion, MI
674 people
Pine Valley, NY
674 people
Humboldt, SD
674 people
Buena, WA
674 people
Yaurel comunidad, PR
674 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's $21,118 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jobos comunidad, PR
$21,119 median income
Castleberry, AL
$21,111 median income
Lares zona urbana, PR
$21,108 median income
Toa Alta zona urbana, PR
$21,098 median income
Indios comunidad, PR
$21,154 median income
Bly, OR
$21,071 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia, NC 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, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 40.1% 29.8% 22.3% 7.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 32.6% White 40.1% Black or African American 29.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 22.3% Two or more races 7.9% 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 North Carolina 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) 674 $21,118
Saluda 676 $52,946
Robbinsville 677 $17,841
Sedalia 680 $78,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia, NC?

What is the population of Columbia, NC? +

Columbia, NC has a population of 674 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Columbia runs $21,118, 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 North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

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

The median home value in Columbia is $120,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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