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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Columbia Metro

Columbia, MO · 3 counties · 190,387 residents · 1,714.102 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $45,292. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $147,101. At a median age of 31.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 41% 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: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 37.2
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
190,387
+17%since 2000
from 162,336 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 95 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
31.0
+1%since 2000
from 30.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
129K152K176K199K223K1990201020202024Columbia
2024215K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,292
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,893 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,404
+28%since 2000
from $19,121 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
26.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 7%
Retail trade6.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,101
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,313 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$699
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
41.8%
−18.6 ptssince 2000
from 60.3% in 2000
41.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
20.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.2
+24%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic82.3%(156,671)
Black8.8%(16,671)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(5,249)
Asian3.3%(6,214)
Other3.2%(6,113)
Diversity Score39.5%(75,231)
Diversity Score
40
+37%since 2000
from 29 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 37.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
90.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
18.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.8 min
+51%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
76.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
18.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
40.8%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
8.9%
−39.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+63%
Home value$430,200+192%
Population221,795+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+58%
Home value$293,695+100%
Population231,174+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952+54%
Home value$328,900+124%
Population217,212−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Athens
Income$69,695+54%
Home value$314,999+114%
Population224,148+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, MO?

Columbia, MO has about 190,387 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, MO?

The typical household in Columbia, MO earns about $45,292 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 $147,101, and the typical rent is about $699 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, MO?

About 41.2% 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 17.9% 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 53,542 residents, a change of about 39 percent over that period.

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

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