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CITY

Columbia

Illinois · 10,865 residents (2025 est.) · 10.55 sq mi
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Part of the St. Louis metro area
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Notable rankings
#281Lowest unemploymentof 6,8261.4%
The short version

Columbia is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $107,606. Population has grown 40% since 2000. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $293,000. Poverty is rare here, at 5.4% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,127
+40%since 2000
from 7,922 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,055 / sq mi
+40%since 2000
from 751 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+13%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,865 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K7K8K10K12K1990201020202024Columbia
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$107,606
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,003 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,601
+93%since 2000
from $26,767 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.7%
+21.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.396
+6%since 2010
from 0.375 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$293,000
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $126,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,128
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $609 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.4%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.6% in 2000
17.6% rent
Vacancy rate
6.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.3%
+13.4 ptssince 2009
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+25%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.9%(7,755)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1%(76)
Asian0.3%(27)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.5%(276)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(10,559)
Black0.7%(73)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(184)
Asian0.1%(13)
Other2.7%(298)
Diversity Score12.3%(1,369)
Diversity Score
12
+253%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
49.0%
+20.5 ptssince 2000
from 28.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 89.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.4 min
+61%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 87.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.5%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2011
from 67.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
53.1%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.5%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2012
from 9.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.4%
−93.6 ptssince 2013
from 96.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 83.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Columbia

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Pop 11,176
Pebble Creek
Pop 10,447
Lakeland Highlands
Pop 12,102
Olympia Heights
Pop 12,399
Places similar to Columbia
Head to head

Compare Columbia to nearby cities

COLUMBIA VS
Oakville
Income$106,362−1%
Home value$318,600+9%
Population35,333+225%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Mehlville
Income$67,071−38%
Home value$218,400−25%
Population29,805+174%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Lemay
Income$60,399−44%
Home value$152,200−48%
Population16,228+49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Concord
Income$89,038−17%
Home value$303,600+4%
Population18,368+69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, Illinois?

Columbia, Illinois has about 11,127 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, Illinois?

The typical household in Columbia, Illinois earns about $107,606 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, Illinois expensive?

In Columbia, Illinois, the median home is worth about $293,000, and the typical rent is about $1,128 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, Illinois?

About 49.0% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, Illinois?

About 5.4% of people in Columbia, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,603 residents, a change of about 101 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →