United States › Columbus MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
Columbus Micro Columbus, MS · 2 counties · 69,164 residents · 1,201 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Columbus is a metro area of 69,164 people. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $126,010. 2% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. The poverty rate is 21.0%, above the 12.8% national rate. The median household earns $46,503, about 30% below the national median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
67K 69K 71K 73K 75K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Columbus Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $46,503
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,465 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,753 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Public administration 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$126,010
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,305 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$769
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 68.7% in 2000
36.4% rent
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 51.5%(38,156)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(825)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 46.3%(32,002)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(1,495)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 33.3%(9,634)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 20.5%(918)
Gulf War (1990s) 28.1%(1,257)
Share of the 4,473 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
2 component counties Drill deeper
Metros similar to Columbus Head to head
Compare Columbus side by side COLUMBUS VS
Forest City
Income $51,410 +11%
Home value $201,800 +60%
Population 65,745 −2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Fort Payne
Income $51,204 +10%
Home value $152,700 +21%
Population 74,085 +10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gallup
Income $47,668 +3%
Home value $78,700 −38%
Population 68,119 +1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gaffney
Income $50,288 +8%
Home value $142,000 +13%
Population 58,275 −13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Columbus, MS? Columbus, MS has about 69,164 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Columbus, MS? The typical household in Columbus, MS earns about $46,503 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 $126,010, and the typical rent is about $769 a month.
How educated are people in Columbus, MS? About 22.2% 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 21.0% 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 2,748 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 