Population 1,488 · 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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Columbia is a place of small households, averaging 2.04 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.0 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.2 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Columbia is 43.0 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 45.2, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Columbia: 14.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Columbia rent their homes (33.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 52.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 33.8% of the housing in Columbia, 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.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +7 | +6 |
Columbia is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $551 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $644 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $775 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $759 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$208 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Columbia costs $759 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 34.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Columbia: 13.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.2% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 65.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Columbia never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Columbia than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. 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 | 2.04 | 43.0 | 14.8% | 33.1% | 33.8% | 1966 | $759 | 13.5% | 79.9% | 4.1% |
| River Neck | 1.73 | 44.8 | 7.0% | 13.7% | 29.4% | 1992 | $1,129 | 7.5% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Pleasant View | 1.67 | 59.3 | 6.9% | 9.9% | 27.4% | 1976 | $645 | 18.8% | 97.3% | 5.8% |
| Soundside | 1.73 | 44.8 | 7.0% | 13.7% | 29.4% | 1992 | $1,129 | 7.5% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Travis | 2.30 | 47.8 | 8.2% | 20.0% | 27.7% | 1978 | $630 | 18.1% | 73.2% | 0.2% |
| New Lands | 1.65 | 60.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | 27.0% | 1977 | $644 | 19.0% | 98.2% | 5.8% |
| Goat Neck | 1.73 | 44.8 | 7.0% | 13.7% | 29.4% | 1992 | $1,129 | 7.5% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Creswell | 2.75 | 47.6 | 13.1% | 17.8% | 14.1% | 1982 | $836 | 21.7% | 84.8% | 2.1% |
| Mount Tabor | 2.97 | 50.7 | 15.4% | 19.0% | 16.6% | 1982 | $989 | 29.8% | 82.7% | 1.7% |
| Buffalo City | 1.91 | 45.3 | 6.3% | 27.9% | 14.1% | 1986 | $1,184 | 22.4% | 85.6% | 8.6% |
| Roper | 1.90 | 52.0 | 23.3% | 35.7% | 25.8% | 1978 | $909 | 16.3% | 87.6% | 16.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: North Truro, MA · Macks Creek, MO · Madison, MO · Mapleville, RI · Metamora, OH · Netarts, OR · New Lyme, OH · Newington, GA · Norfolk, CT · Lorenzo, TX
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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