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METRO AREA

Columbus Metro

Columbus, IN · 1 counties · 85,729 residents (2025 est.) · 406.94 sq mi
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The short version

Columbus has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $79,901. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $232,800. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
83,536
+17%since 2000
from 71,435 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
205 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 176 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+4%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:85,729 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
62K68K74K80K86K1990201020202024Columbus
202484K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$79,901
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,184 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,608
+93%since 2000
from $21,536 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.6%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+4%since 2010
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade29.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,800
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,127
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $570 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.3% in 2000
30.7% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.0%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+30%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbus on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93%(66,422)
Black1.8%(1,281)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(1,598)
Asian1.9%(1,344)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.3%(10,249)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.7%(64,906)
Black1.8%(1,534)
Hispanic / Latino9.2%(7,710)
Asian7.4%(6,156)
Other3.9%(3,230)
Diversity Score47.6%(39,734)
Segregation Score25.6%(21,418)
Diversity Score
48
+232%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
26
−15%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.1%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+65%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.6%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.8%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 66.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.8%
−21.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
11.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−81.8 ptssince 2013
from 87.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+17.4 ptssince 2017
from 75.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2016
from 89.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 4.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbusCENTRAL52,655
What's inside

1 component county

Bartholomew CountyCENTRAL85,729
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbus

Helena
Pop 97,153
Beaver Dam
Pop 89,097
Centralia
Pop 88,062
Keene
Pop 78,269
Places similar to Columbus
Head to head

Compare Columbus side by side

COLUMBUS VS
Helena
Income$79,942same
Home value$403,467+73%
Population97,153+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Beaver Dam
Income$75,929−5%
Home value$231,900same
Population89,097+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Centralia
Income$74,796−6%
Home value$385,800+66%
Population88,062+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Keene
Income$83,329+4%
Home value$280,100+20%
Population78,269−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, IN?

Columbus, IN has about 83,536 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, IN?

The typical household in Columbus, IN earns about $79,901 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus, IN expensive?

In Columbus, IN, the median home is worth about $232,800, and the typical rent is about $1,127 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, IN?

About 34.1% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, IN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbus, IN?

About 10.5% of people in Columbus, IN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus, IN grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus, IN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 19,879 residents, a change of about 31 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 →