Population 162,434 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbia County
Household size in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.64 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.99 | 2.74 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.21 | 2.77 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.99 | 2.73 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | +0.09 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbia County are large by national standards, averaging 2.99 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.84, even as the national average fell. Few Georgia counties have larger households: only eight of 159.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.1 | 37.5 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.3 | 37.9 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.2 | 39.0 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 39.4 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Columbia County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 37.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 15.0% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 13.3% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 15.4% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in seven households in Columbia County (13.6%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Even so, single parents are less common here than in the Augusta area as a whole (15.4%). The single-parent share is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Columbia County
Renters in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 31.2% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 32.5% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.5% | 32.9% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 32.0% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.9% of households in Columbia County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 29.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.7 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 12.5% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 14.8% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 16.5% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 14.2% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Columbia County as nationally: 11.0%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in the Augusta area as a whole (14.2%). Vacancy is up 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1982 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1984 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1989 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Columbia County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1999, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the east has the oldest housing. Few Georgia counties have newer homes: only ten of 159.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $948 | $760 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,118 | $856 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,279 | $988 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,623 | $1,254 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$675 | +$494 | +$609 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Columbia County costs $1,623 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the wider Augusta area ($1,254). Rents are up $675 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Columbia County
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 23.7% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 25.0% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.4% | 25.8% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.5% | 29.6% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Columbia County as nationally: 38.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in the Augusta area as a whole (29.6%). The share with a degree has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 11 of Georgia's 159 counties have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 83.9% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 85.8% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 87.3% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 89.1% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +5.2 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Columbia County is above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Georgia's 159 counties, only 12 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Augusta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.3% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 6.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.2 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Columbia County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Columbia County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 2.99 | 38.2 | 13.6% | 21.9% | 11.0% | 1999 | $1,623 | 38.5% | 92.5% | 4.6% |
| Richmond County | 2.73 | 37.2 | 19.2% | 48.8% | 16.8% | 1982 | $1,226 | 25.2% | 87.3% | 9.2% |
| McDuffie County | 2.69 | 41.1 | 16.1% | 35.0% | 13.8% | 1986 | $884 | 17.8% | 86.7% | 1.9% |
| Aiken County | 2.52 | 42.4 | 12.2% | 23.5% | 12.7% | 1988 | $1,116 | 31.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Warren County | 2.41 | 44.7 | 12.7% | 27.8% | 18.7% | 1980 | $682 | 12.6% | 77.6% | 10.4% |
| Taliaferro County | 2.71 | 46.3 | 20.9% | 17.9% | 36.4% | 1975 | $657 | 11.9% | 87.4% | 5.4% |
| Greene County | 2.48 | 53.2 | 11.5% | 22.1% | 21.9% | 1988 | $1,358 | 36.9% | 88.8% | 3.8% |
| Morgan County | 2.60 | 43.9 | 9.3% | 21.8% | 8.7% | 1992 | $1,317 | 29.7% | 91.6% | 2.3% |
| Calhoun County | 2.30 | 46.4 | 11.0% | 15.0% | 11.3% | 1987 | $1,033 | 24.4% | 87.1% | 6.3% |
| Orangeburg County | 2.45 | 42.0 | 18.0% | 33.0% | 20.7% | 1981 | $883 | 20.2% | 84.8% | 8.6% |
| Newton County | 2.88 | 37.1 | 17.0% | 26.2% | 7.0% | 1996 | $1,555 | 24.9% | 90.5% | 6.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Stafford County, VA · Kings County, CA · Madera County, CA · Martin County, FL · Maui County, HI · Merrimack County, NH · Mesa County, CO · Middlesex County, CT · Monroe County, MI · Johnson County, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Columbia County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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