Population 4,540 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbus
Household size in Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.72 | 2.58 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.61 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.63 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.58 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbus average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.72, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 36.8 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.1 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.6 | 38.6 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 39.2 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.2 | +2.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Columbus skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 10.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.1% | 10.6% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 9.9% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Columbus than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Minneapolis area.
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 Columbus
Renters in Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.5% | 27.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 29.6% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 30.0% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 29.3% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Columbus is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 10.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (35.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below 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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 7.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 6.2% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.5% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 5.7% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Columbus: just 5.5% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. The picture is much the same across the Minneapolis area.
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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1975 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1976 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1977 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1980 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Columbus are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S.
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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $793 | $1,007 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,097 | $1,077 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $890 | $1,258 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,521 | $1,603 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$729 | +$597 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbus runs $1,521 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Minneapolis area as a whole ($1,603). Rent takes 27.9% of the typical renter's income, just under 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 Columbus
Bachelor's degrees in Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 37.2% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 39.1% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 41.8% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.7% | 45.4% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +8.1 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Columbus than nationally: 29.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 92.4% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 92.9% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.9% | 93.5% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 94.0% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Columbus: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | Minneapolis area | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Columbus has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Columbus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 2.62 | 44.1 | 9.8% | 10.8% | 5.5% | 1984 | $1,521 | 29.7% | 96.2% | 2.1% |
| Forest Lake | 2.58 | 40.2 | 10.8% | 27.8% | 5.8% | 1988 | $1,397 | 34.3% | 93.9% | 4.1% |
| Wyoming | 2.81 | 40.1 | 10.2% | 12.0% | 1.8% | 1992 | $1,177 | 36.7% | 96.3% | 4.1% |
| Ham Lake | 2.89 | 43.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | 2.3% | 1993 | $1,515 | 37.2% | 95.1% | 3.4% |
| Centerville | 2.66 | 40.6 | 4.6% | 11.4% | 2.3% | 1995 | $1,384 | 42.5% | 97.4% | 2.2% |
| Lino Lakes | 2.73 | 42.5 | 5.8% | 7.8% | 2.4% | 1994 | $1,893 | 44.6% | 95.3% | 4.0% |
| East Bethel | 2.72 | 41.7 | 5.7% | 7.8% | 7.5% | 1985 | $1,762 | 23.0% | 95.0% | 3.5% |
| Hugo | 2.53 | 41.6 | 7.1% | 10.2% | 5.1% | 2000 | $1,887 | 46.5% | 98.3% | 1.6% |
| Stacy | 2.71 | 43.1 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 5.1% | 1987 | $1,361 | 18.8% | 94.0% | 2.4% |
| Circle Pines | 2.73 | 39.6 | 10.8% | 12.5% | 3.6% | 1984 | $1,470 | 42.1% | 94.1% | 3.6% |
| Blaine | 2.92 | 38.0 | 10.2% | 14.8% | 4.9% | 1994 | $1,621 | 38.4% | 94.3% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Berwyn Heights, MD · Thomasville, PA · Belleair, FL · West Middlesex, PA · Tully, NY · Langley, WA · Galena, KS · Ava, MO · Vergennes, VT · Charlotte, TN
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 Columbus. 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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