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METRO AREA

Columbus Metro

Columbus, GA-AL · 7 counties · 324,830 residents (2025 est.) · 2,786.078 sq mi
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The short version

Columbus has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,450. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $194,188.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
325,615
+11%since 2000
from 293,518 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
117 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 105 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
+11%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:324,830 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
274K289K304K319K334K1990201020202024Columbus
2024326K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,450
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,225 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,493
+93%since 2000
from $17,380 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.0%
+17.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.477
+4%since 2010
from 0.457 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$194,188
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,074 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,054
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 59.7% in 2000
42.1% rent
Vacancy rate
12.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+39%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbus on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.4%(153,680)
Black40.7%(119,472)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(11,501)
Asian1.1%(3,363)
Other0%
Diversity Score67.7%(198,672)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic43%(140,117)
Black41.8%(136,198)
Hispanic / Latino7.7%(25,108)
Asian1.9%(6,275)
Other5.5%(17,917)
Diversity Score78.8%(256,636)
Segregation Score41.2%(134,005)
Diversity Score
79
+16%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
−7%since 2020
from 44 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.2%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 18.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.2%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+66%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.3%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
13.5%
−29.6 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 18.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.9%
−73.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+16.6 ptssince 2017
from 69.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbusCENTRAL202,171
What's inside

7 component counties

Muscogee CountyCENTRAL202,171Russell CountyCENTRAL58,898Harris County37,280Chattahoochee CountyCENTRAL8,465Marion County7,676Talbot County5,709Stewart County4,631
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbus

Kingsport
Pop 314,834
Huntington
Pop 365,965
Gainesville
Pop 359,036
College Station
Pop 287,476
Places similar to Columbus
Head to head

Compare Columbus side by side

COLUMBUS VS
Kingsport
Income$58,138−4%
Home value$200,081+3%
Population314,834−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Huntington
Income$60,617same
Home value$154,721−20%
Population365,965+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gainesville
Income$61,360+2%
Home value$271,225+40%
Population359,036+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
College Station
Income$60,172same
Home value$282,096+45%
Population287,476−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, GA-AL?

Columbus, GA-AL has about 325,615 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, GA-AL?

The typical household in Columbus, GA-AL earns about $60,450 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus, GA-AL expensive?

In Columbus, GA-AL, the median home is worth about $194,188, and the typical rent is about $1,054 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, GA-AL?

About 28.2% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, GA-AL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbus, GA-AL?

About 18.6% of people in Columbus, GA-AL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus, GA-AL grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus, GA-AL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 46,987 residents, a change of about 17 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 →