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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Columbia Metro

Columbia, MO · 3 counties · 210,864 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 $58,095. Population has grown 30% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $192,056. At a median age of 32.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 45% 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 32.9
US median: 38.8
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
210,864
+30%since 2000
from 162,336 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
123 / sq mi
+30%since 2000
from 95 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.9
+8%since 2000
from 30.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
129K152K176K199K223K1990201020202024Columbia
2024215K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,095
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,893 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,085
+63%since 2000
from $19,121 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.1%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information10.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$192,056
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,313 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$857
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
56.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 60.3% in 2000
43.4% rent
Afford Score
3.3
+27%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic76.5%(161,327)
Black9.2%(19,344)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(8,582)
Asian3.7%(7,866)
Other4.8%(10,092)
Diversity Score47.4%(100,053)
Segregation Score30.4%(64,102)
Diversity Score
47
+64%since 2000
from 29 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
44.7%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 37.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.9%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
19.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+59%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
45.4%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.1%
−83.2 ptssince 2013
from 90.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+27%
Home value$430,200+124%
Population221,795+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+23%
Home value$293,695+53%
Population231,174+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952+20%
Home value$328,900+71%
Population217,212−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Athens
Income$69,695+20%
Home value$314,999+64%
Population224,148+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, MO?

Columbia, MO has about 210,864 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, MO?

The typical household in Columbia, MO earns about $58,095 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 $192,056, and the typical rent is about $857 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, MO?

About 44.7% 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 16.3% 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 74,019 residents, a change of about 54 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 →