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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Columbus Micro

Columbus, MS · 2 counties · 69,164 residents · 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 $46,503. Population has declined 7% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $126,010. The poverty rate of 21.0% is well above the national figure.

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

Total population
69,164
−7%since 2000
from 74,134 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
58 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 62 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
38.5
+18%since 2000
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
67K69K71K73K75K1990201020202024Columbus
202468K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,503
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,465 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,215
+60%since 2000
from $15,753 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.6%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
21.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade18.3%
US avg: 10%
Information13.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$126,010
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,305 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$769
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
63.6%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
36.4% rent
Afford Score
2.7
+25%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic46.3%(32,002)
Black47.8%(33,075)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(1,495)
Asian0.8%(528)
Other2.1%(1,431)
Diversity Score68.5%(47,381)
Segregation Score41.7%(28,814)
Diversity Score
69
+7%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+52%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.8%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
52.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
12.4%
−68.6 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+11%
Home value$201,800+60%
Population65,745−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+10%
Home value$152,700+21%
Population74,085+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gallup
Income$47,668+3%
Home value$78,700−38%
Population68,119+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288+8%
Home value$142,000+13%
Population58,275−13%
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.

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

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