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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Columbus Micro

Columbus, MS · 2 counties · 67,144 residents (2025 est.) · 1,200.606 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 $50,861. Population has declined 8% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $153,272.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
67,863
−8%since 2000
from 74,134 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
57 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 62 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.0
+16%since 2000
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:67,144 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
67K69K71K73K75K1990201020202024Columbus
202468K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,861
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,465 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,086
+85%since 2000
from $15,753 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.4%
+16.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.486
−1%since 2010
from 0.490 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$153,272
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,305 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$893
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
37.0% rent
Vacancy rate
15.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+38%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
39
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbus on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic51.5%(38,156)
Black46%(34,120)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(825)
Asian0.5%(342)
Other0%
Diversity Score64.3%(47,641)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic45.5%(30,911)
Black48%(32,563)
Hispanic / Latino2%(1,367)
Asian0.9%(597)
Other3.6%(2,425)
Diversity Score70.1%(47,549)
Segregation Score40.5%(27,463)
Diversity Score
70
+9%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
40
−3%since 2020
from 42 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.4%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+55%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−7.8 ptssince 2011
from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.5%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
52.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.2%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 16.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.3%
−69.7 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.6%
+23.4 ptssince 2017
from 61.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 95.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbusCENTRAL22,792
What's inside

2 component counties

Lowndes CountyCENTRAL57,346Noxubee County9,798
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbus

Forest City
Pop 65,745
Fort Payne
Pop 74,085
Gallup
Pop 68,119
Gaffney
Pop 58,275
Places similar to Columbus
Head to head

Compare Columbus side by side

COLUMBUS VS
Forest City
Income$51,410+1%
Home value$201,800+32%
Population65,745−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+1%
Home value$152,700same
Population74,085+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gallup
Income$47,668−6%
Home value$78,700−49%
Population68,119+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288−1%
Home value$142,000−7%
Population58,275−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, MS?

Columbus, MS has about 67,863 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, MS?

The typical household in Columbus, MS earns about $50,861 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus, MS expensive?

In Columbus, MS, the median home is worth about $153,272, and the typical rent is about $893 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, MS?

About 25.5% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, MS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbus, MS?

About 18.6% of people in Columbus, MS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus, MS grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus, MS has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,049 residents, a change of about -6 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 →