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CITY · 2020 ACS

Columbia

Missouri · 126,254 residents · 67.31 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,447. Population has grown 49% since 2000. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $208,300. At a median age of 29.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 29.2
US median: 38.8
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
126,254
+49%since 2000
from 84,531 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,876 / sq mi
+49%since 2000
from 1,256 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
29.2
+9%since 2000
from 26.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
63K81K99K117K134K1990201020202024Columbia
2024129K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,447
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,729 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,341
+61%since 2000
from $19,507 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
35.5%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration6.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$208,300
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$890
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $525 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
45.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 47.3% in 2000
54.7% rent
Afford Score
3.9
+19%since 2000
from 3.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.4%(67,984)
Black10.8%(9,106)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(1,733)
Asian4.3%(3,624)
Other0%
Diversity Score38.2%(32,280)
2020
White, non-Hispanic71.1%(89,814)
Black11.8%(14,858)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(6,195)
Asian5.6%(7,056)
Other5.7%(7,181)
Diversity Score57.7%(72,844)
Diversity Score
58
+51%since 2000
from 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
53.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 50.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 91.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
25.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.5 min
+59%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 67.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
49.0%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
8.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.0%
−83.6 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

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Pop 132,353
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Pop 114,364
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Head to head

Compare Columbia to nearby cities

COLUMBIA VS
Fulton
Income$51,429−4%
Home value$155,900−25%
Population12,853−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Jefferson City
Income$66,371+24%
Home value$218,700+5%
Population42,489−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Mexico
Income$50,873−5%
Home value$139,800−33%
Population11,558−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Moberly
Income$44,145−17%
Home value$153,100−27%
Population13,719−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, Missouri?

Columbia, Missouri has about 126,254 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, Missouri?

The typical household in Columbia, Missouri earns about $53,447 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, Missouri expensive?

In Columbia, Missouri, the median home is worth about $208,300, and the typical rent is about $890 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, Missouri?

About 53.3% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, Missouri?

About 20.2% of people in Columbia, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 57,153 residents, a change of about 83 percent over that period.

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

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