Population 200 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbus
Household size in Columbus
| Period | Columbus | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.92 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.64 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbus run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in North Dakota overall, where it has 2.38 people. Household size has climbed from 1.92 in 2006–10, 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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.0 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.4 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −11.7 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Columbus are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in North Dakota as a whole, where the median age is 37.4.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.4% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Columbus as they are nationally: 12.1%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in North Dakota as a whole (8.8%).
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.9% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.6% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Columbus own their homes; 25.6% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About three-quarters of owners (76.3%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +14.1 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 34.9% of the housing in Columbus, 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 Columbus
| Period | Columbus | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +11 | +6 |
Homes in Columbus run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $383 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $707 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $915 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $864 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$481 | +$458 | +$606 |
The median renter in Columbus pays $864 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 15.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Columbus have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.1%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.8% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Columbus is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across North Dakota.
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 | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.4% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Columbus is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in North Dakota as a whole (2.8%). 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).
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 | 2.56 | 39.6 | 12.1% | 25.6% | 34.9% | 1972 | $864 | 22.1% | 93.1% | 6.0% |
| Larson | 2.40 | 42.8 | 9.7% | 24.0% | 32.9% | 1966 | $917 | 25.6% | 92.9% | 4.8% |
| Lignite | 2.49 | 39.6 | 10.6% | 25.3% | 34.4% | 1971 | $828 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 5.1% |
| Portal | 2.23 | 39.8 | 4.4% | 24.3% | 32.6% | 1967 | $686 | 23.3% | 94.1% | 1.7% |
| Noonan | 2.09 | 47.5 | 4.8% | 20.0% | 29.7% | 1949 | $1,066 | 38.4% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| Flaxton | 2.19 | 39.8 | 3.6% | 24.2% | 32.3% | 1966 | $666 | 23.5% | 94.2% | 1.2% |
| Mcgregor | 2.29 | 47.1 | 5.1% | 13.1% | 29.3% | 1968 | $868 | 18.5% | 94.0% | 2.8% |
| Coteau | 2.19 | 39.8 | 3.6% | 24.2% | 32.3% | 1966 | $666 | 23.5% | 94.2% | 1.2% |
| Powers Lake | 2.49 | 39.8 | 11.8% | 23.9% | 33.7% | 1974 | $932 | 23.1% | 93.2% | 5.1% |
| Crosby | 2.03 | 53.6 | 4.9% | 25.4% | 26.6% | 1970 | $914 | 18.1% | 90.4% | 2.0% |
| Wildrose | 2.21 | 48.4 | 3.7% | 11.8% | 28.3% | 1964 | $901 | 21.3% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Danby, KY · Crandon, VA · Cranes Nest, VA · Cravens, AR · Pendair Heights, OR · Cromberg, CA · Cromwell, AL · Crosstown, MO · Croydon, UT · Cusson, MN
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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