Population 61,997 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbia
Household size in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.64 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Columbia has 2.52 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across the Nashville area. Household size has crept up from 2.45 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 36.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.3 | 37.3 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.7 | 38.0 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +1.5 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Columbia is 37.7 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 38.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Columbia is younger than at least four in five Tennessee cities.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.6% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Columbia as they are nationally: 12.6%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Nashville area as a whole (10.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.2 points, 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
Renters in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 31.5% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.7% | 34.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 34.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Columbia rent their homes (30.4%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 40.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.6 points, 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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 9.1% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 8.5% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 8.2% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Columbia is the same as the national rate: 9.6% of homes are empty. Vacancy is up 0.7 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
| Period | Columbia | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1984 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1988 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +9 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Columbia is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in the Nashville area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1992. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $761 | $905 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $741 | $986 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $919 | $1,212 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,346 | $1,653 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$585 | +$749 | +$526 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Columbia costs $1,346 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $585 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northeast.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 30.1% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 32.0% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 36.3% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 41.0% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +10.9 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Columbia have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 25.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 7.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the center.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.9% | 86.5% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.6% | 88.0% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.7% | 90.0% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 91.7% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +5.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Columbia have finished high school (92.0%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Nashville area. The share with a diploma is up 8.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 7.8% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Columbia has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.8 points, in line with the national trend. 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 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 | 2.52 | 37.7 | 12.6% | 30.4% | 9.6% | 1985 | $1,346 | 25.0% | 92.0% | 2.5% |
| Hardy Acres | 2.27 | 34.8 | 2.7% | 35.9% | 3.8% | 2000 | $1,111 | 28.1% | 98.8% | 0.1% |
| Lanton | 2.36 | 41.2 | 10.7% | 1.8% | 4.8% | 1993 | $2,073 | 34.7% | 96.5% | 0.7% |
| Match | 2.76 | 47.1 | 5.8% | 10.8% | 7.9% | 1998 | $1,764 | 30.1% | 95.5% | 1.5% |
| Carters Creek | 2.69 | 36.3 | 7.1% | 11.6% | 4.0% | 2013 | $1,649 | 43.9% | 95.9% | 2.3% |
| Neapolis | 2.55 | 42.8 | 1.2% | 11.1% | 9.6% | 2013 | $1,863 | 45.0% | 97.1% | 5.2% |
| Red Row | 1.82 | 47.4 | 6.3% | 47.4% | 9.0% | 1985 | $778 | 13.1% | 89.1% | 7.2% |
| Fountain Heights | 2.35 | 49.5 | 6.5% | 6.6% | 7.0% | 2000 | $1,220 | 35.4% | 92.9% | 2.0% |
| Leftwich | 2.35 | 49.6 | 6.9% | 6.5% | 7.0% | 2000 | $1,237 | 34.9% | 92.8% | 2.1% |
| Williamsport | 2.53 | 45.9 | 5.7% | 15.1% | 16.5% | 1982 | $861 | 19.8% | 93.9% | 2.5% |
| Theta | 2.70 | 45.8 | 5.4% | 5.4% | 18.5% | 1997 | $1,447 | 35.1% | 95.3% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bonita Springs, FL · Danville, VA · Berwyn, IL · Weymouth Town, MA · Westminster, MD · Sammamish, WA · Roswell, NM · Plymouth, MA · Placentia, CA · Pinellas Park, FL
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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