Town · North Carolina
Columbus, North Carolina
Columbus, town, in Polk County, North Carolina. Columbus had 1,042 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.5% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 988; the 2020 Census counted 1,060 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,071 (±292). GEOID 3713980.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,042
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,060 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,071 ±292
Median household income
$60,169
±$15,642 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$265,700
±$28,252 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$788
±$476 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Columbus and what county is it in?
Columbus is a town in Polk County, North Carolina. It covers 3.8 square miles of land, 282 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Columbus, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,042 people lived in Columbus on July 1, 2025, up 5.5% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Columbus, 988, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 1,060: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,071 (±292).
| Measure | Columbus | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,071 ±292 | 19,891 | no clear change |
| Households | 481 ±122 | 8,976 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.37 | 2.18 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 525 ±125 | 11,042 | no clear change |
Columbus's population since 2000
From 992 in 2000 to 1,042 in 2025: up 5.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Columbus as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbus?
The median resident of Columbus is 54.4 years old; 13.4% are under 18 and 29.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 71.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.7%. 9.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Columbus | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4 ±14.8 | 54.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 13.4% ±6.0 pts | 15.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.8% ±9.5 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Male | 44.7% ±7.3 pts | 47.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.7% ±11.9 pts | 5.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 71.3% ±10.8 pts | 86.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±4.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.5% ±4.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.7% ±6.3 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.6% ±9.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7% ±2.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| With a disability | 19.5% ±6.8 pts | 17.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 16.2% ±7.4 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.6% ±6.8 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.1% ±9.1 pts | 36.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.3% ±5.4 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.0% ±7.0 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.2% ±5.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Columbus earn?
Half of Columbus's 481 households earn less than $60,169 a year (±$15,642), against $67,758 in Polk County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $42,305 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Columbus | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,169 ±$15,642 | $67,758 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $65,026 ±$12,085 | $96,279 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,357 ±$4,657 | $43,211 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2% ±7.5 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.9% ±24.6 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.8% ±8.0 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.1% ±4.3 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.0% ±10.6 pts | 84.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Columbus?
Owners occupy 63.4% of Columbus's occupied homes and renters 36.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $265,700 by its owner (±$28,252). The median renter pays $788 a month including utilities, and 35.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Columbus | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $265,700 ±$28,252 | $315,000 | +$71,743 |
| Median gross rent | $788 ±$476 | $1,178 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.3% ±17.3 pts | 42.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,243 ±$191 | $1,415 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.4% ±10.7 pts | 76.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.6% ±10.7 pts | 23.1% | – |
| Housing units | 525 ±125 | 11,042 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±12.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.4% ±11.2 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.0% ±10.1 pts | 79.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% ±6.0 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.1% ±2.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.1% ±4.8 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.5% ±5.5 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.3% ±6.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Columbus work and get to work?
75.6% of Columbus's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes.
| Measure | Columbus | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.9% ±7.6 pts | 53.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±4.6 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.6% ±11.3 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.6% ±9.2 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±8.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±8.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.8% ±8.7 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±5.0 | 28.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Columbus?
No census tract lies mostly in Columbus; 3 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9201.04Polk County | 3,332 | $72,069 |
| Tract 9203.01Polk County | 1,130 | $61,250 |
| Tract 9202.01Polk County | 2,849 | $89,316 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Columbus) · Census block assignment files
How does Columbus compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Columbus is the 10,101st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 333rd-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Columbus ranks 240th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 333rd | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 145th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 415th | 443 |
| Median household income | 240th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 252nd | 443 |
| Median home value | 192nd | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 321st | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 204th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 228th | 421 |
| Median age | 43rd | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 253rd | 443 |
| Travel time to work | 320th | 439 |
Columbus's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Columbus with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Columbus?
23 of the 57 figures for Columbus on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbus are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Columbus.