CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Columbus Micro

Columbus, MS · 2 counties · 71,324 residents · 1,200.606 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Columbus has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $35,110. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value is $96,382. The poverty rate of 24.4% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 36.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
19% 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
71,324
−4%since 2000
from 74,134 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
59 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 62 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
36.0
+10%since 2000
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
67K69K71K73K75K1990201020202024Columbus
202468K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,110
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,465 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,895
+26%since 2000
from $15,753 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
19.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
24.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services4%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$96,382
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,305 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$568
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.6%
−29.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
34.7% rent
Vacancy rate
13.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
30.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.4%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.7
+26%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic49%(34,960)
Black47.9%(34,153)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(1,006)
Asian0.6%(416)
Other1%(686)
Diversity Score66.1%(47,142)
Diversity Score
66
+3%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
78.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+50%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
8.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
25.4%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
52.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
12.3%
−32.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+46%
Home value$201,800+109%
Population65,745−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+46%
Home value$152,700+58%
Population74,085+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gallup
Income$47,668+36%
Home value$78,700−18%
Population68,119+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288+43%
Home value$142,000+47%
Population58,275−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, MS?

Columbus, MS has about 71,324 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, MS?

The typical household in Columbus, MS earns about $35,110 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 $96,382, and the typical rent is about $568 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, MS?

About 18.9% 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 24.4% 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 588 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Columbus with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →