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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Columbus Micro

Columbus, NE · 2 counties · 46,583 residents (2025 est.) · 1,086.578 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#12Lowest unemploymentof 9251.8%#41Shortest commutesof 92516.4
The short version

Columbus has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,127. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $205,319. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
45,357
+8%since 2000
from 42,103 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
42 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 39 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.2
+4%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:46,583 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
38K40K42K44K46K1990201020202024Columbus
202445K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,127
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,489 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,056
+108%since 2000
from $17,341 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.6%
+27.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.410
+5%since 2010
from 0.392 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$205,319
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,065 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$916
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $424 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
27.3% rent
Vacancy rate
5.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+42%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbus on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(36,743)
Black0.2%(98)
Hispanic / Latino11.4%(4,804)
Asian0.3%(141)
Other0%
Diversity Score26.7%(11,240)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.1%(29,988)
Black1.4%(621)
Hispanic / Latino29.4%(13,325)
Asian0.2%(93)
Other2.9%(1,330)
Diversity Score59.4%(26,960)
Segregation Score42%(19,032)
Diversity Score
59
+123%since 2000
from 27 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−7%since 2020
from 45 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+45%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 72.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.8%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
48.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
16.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−44.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.4%
−78.0 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.8%
+15.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
74.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 77.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
23.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 20.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbusCENTRAL25,248
What's inside

2 component counties

Platte CountyCENTRAL35,649Colfax County10,934
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbus

Menomonie
Pop 46,223
Auburn
Pop 44,535
Gainesville
Pop 44,461
Ellensburg
Pop 48,803
Places similar to Columbus
Head to head

Compare Columbus side by side

COLUMBUS VS
Menomonie
Income$74,824+1%
Home value$243,200+18%
Population46,223−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Auburn
Income$74,331same
Home value$194,100−5%
Population44,535−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Gainesville
Income$73,932same
Home value$240,400+17%
Population44,461−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Ellensburg
Income$73,804same
Home value$497,400+142%
Population48,803+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, NE?

Columbus, NE has about 45,357 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, NE?

The typical household in Columbus, NE earns about $74,127 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus, NE expensive?

In Columbus, NE, the median home is worth about $205,319, and the typical rent is about $916 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, NE?

About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, NE hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbus, NE?

About 9.1% of people in Columbus, NE live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus, NE grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus, NE has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,398 residents, a change of about 16 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 →