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METRO AREA

Columbia Metro

Columbia, MO · 3 counties · 219,062 residents (2025 est.) · 1,714.102 sq mi
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#33Most educatedof 92548.3%
The short version

Columbia has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,269. Population has grown 32% since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $262,026. At a median age of 33.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
215,014
+32%since 2000
from 162,336 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
125 / sq mi
+32%since 2000
from 95 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.6
+10%since 2000
from 30.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:219,062 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
129K152K176K199K223K1990201020202024Columbia
2024215K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,269
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,893 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,659
+107%since 2000
from $19,121 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.0%
+22.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+2%since 2010
from 0.459 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration6.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$262,026
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,313 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,052
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.3% in 2000
39.9% rent
Vacancy rate
7.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+39%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
70
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.3%(138,396)
Black8.4%(13,655)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(2,644)
Asian2.5%(4,046)
Other0%
Diversity Score28.9%(46,992)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.2%(166,011)
Black9%(19,377)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(9,044)
Asian4.2%(9,094)
Other5.3%(11,488)
Diversity Score48.7%(104,641)
Segregation Score26.3%(56,495)
Diversity Score
49
+68%since 2000
from 29 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
26
−14%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.3%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 37.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.8%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.3%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+58%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.9%
−20.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 10.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−84.0 ptssince 2013
from 90.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 80.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbiaCENTRAL130,851
What's inside

3 component counties

Boone CountyCENTRAL191,746Cooper County17,136Howard County10,180
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbia

Medford
Pop 221,795
Panama City
Pop 231,174
Punta Gorda
Pop 217,212
Athens
Pop 224,148
Places similar to Columbia
Head to head

Compare Columbia side by side

COLUMBIA VS
Medford
Income$73,999+2%
Home value$430,200+64%
Population221,795+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Panama City
Income$71,687−1%
Home value$293,695+12%
Population231,174+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952−3%
Home value$328,900+26%
Population217,212−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Athens
Income$69,695−4%
Home value$314,999+20%
Population224,148+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, MO?

Columbia, MO has about 215,014 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, MO?

The typical household in Columbia, MO earns about $72,269 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, MO expensive?

In Columbia, MO, the median home is worth about $262,026, and the typical rent is about $1,052 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, MO?

About 48.3% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, MO hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, MO?

About 16.0% of people in Columbia, MO live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, MO grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, MO has grown since 1990. The population has added about 78,169 residents, a change of about 57 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Columbia, MO: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy