Population 14,041 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Columbia
Household size in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbia run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.32, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.5 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Columbia is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 38.8, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.6% of households in Columbia, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Columbia has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Kentucky cities.
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
Renters in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.4% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Columbia own their homes; 25.9% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 57.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Columbia: 16.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.2 points, 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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Columbia are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the west.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $466 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $536 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $592 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $825 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$359 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbia runs $825 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $359 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Columbia: 25.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northeast.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.6% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.6% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Columbia never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Columbia has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Kentucky cities.
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
| Period | Columbia | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Columbia is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.2 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 2.50 | 38.5 | 8.6% | 25.9% | 16.4% | 1983 | $825 | 25.0% | 83.6% | 5.5% |
| Gentrys Mill | 2.76 | 37.0 | 8.3% | 41.5% | 9.2% | 1978 | $791 | 30.1% | 83.6% | 3.5% |
| Cane Valley | 2.32 | 48.8 | 11.7% | 13.3% | 22.6% | 1987 | $671 | 26.7% | 84.8% | 16.6% |
| Joppa | 2.43 | 50.0 | 5.2% | 17.7% | 9.0% | 1992 | $681 | 19.0% | 85.7% | 8.4% |
| Kellyville | 2.40 | 49.3 | 11.0% | 8.8% | 25.7% | 1995 | $712 | 20.4% | 84.9% | 22.2% |
| Craycraft | 2.66 | 43.2 | 21.9% | 29.9% | 14.8% | 1980 | $914 | 16.8% | 87.0% | 10.8% |
| Bliss | 2.23 | 53.3 | 8.6% | 14.2% | 23.8% | 1969 | $754 | 29.3% | 87.0% | 0.0% |
| Gadberry | 2.66 | 37.3 | 1.7% | 27.9% | 14.7% | 2003 | $792 | 30.1% | 88.4% | 1.2% |
| Romine | 3.17 | 36.8 | 2.3% | 7.6% | 4.9% | 1995 | $963 | 14.8% | 96.8% | 1.8% |
| Haskingsville | 2.66 | 41.3 | 14.3% | 13.2% | 6.3% | 1975 | $913 | 15.8% | 85.7% | 15.4% |
| Montpelier | 2.46 | 39.9 | 7.5% | 13.8% | 7.6% | 1991 | $769 | 13.4% | 86.0% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Raceland, LA · Colonial Park, PA · Ridgeland, SC · Lincolnwood, IL · Colchester, VT · Richton Park, IL · Rice Lake, WI · Coalinga, CA · Rehoboth Beach, DE · Clinton, CT
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. 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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