United States › Nebraska › Columbus CITY
Columbus Nebraska · 25,248 residents (2025 est.) · 10.6 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 24,488 people, Columbus is a city in Nebraska. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The average commute runs 15 minutes. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $213,600. Density works out to 2,309 people per square mile. Renters pay $892 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 20,971 in 2000
25,248 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,309 / sq mi
+15%since 2009
from 2,011 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 20K 22K 23K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Columbus Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $64,626
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,874 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,345 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 3.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.4%
Education & health services 2.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
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$213,600
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$892
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $429 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 69.4% in 2000
33.9% rent
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.45 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 33.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.6%(19,209)
Hispanic / Latino 6.7%(1,395)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 67.6%(16,564)
Hispanic / Latino 28.2%(6,909)
from 33 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 85.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 73.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 82.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 80.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 18.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 37.4%(3,546)
Women 15+
Never married 26.7%(2,573)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 73.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 29.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.2%(194)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.6%(239)
Share of the 1,013 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Columbus Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Columbus, Nebraska? Columbus, Nebraska has about 24,488 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Columbus, Nebraska? The typical household in Columbus, Nebraska earns about $64,626 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Columbus, Nebraska expensive? In Columbus, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $213,600, and the typical rent is about $892 a month.
How educated are people in Columbus, Nebraska? About 21.8% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Columbus, Nebraska? About 11.3% of people in Columbus, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Columbus, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Columbus, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,008 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.
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