Population 8,134 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Columbia
Household size in West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.79 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.85 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.67 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.67 people per household, West Columbia sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the Houston area overall, where it has 2.91 people. Household size has dropped from 2.79 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.0 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.6 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.0 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
West Columbia is young: half of its residents are under 35.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. The median age has dropped from 37.6 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in West Columbia, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 7.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. West Columbia has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas 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 West Columbia
Renters in West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.4% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Columbia is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (55.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.3 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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in West Columbia: 13.8% 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.
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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1988 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +16 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
West Columbia has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $675 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $697 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $998 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,127 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$452 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in West Columbia runs $1,127 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $452 a month from 2006–10, a 67% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest 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 West Columbia
Bachelor's degrees in West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in West Columbia have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest 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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.9% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.3% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Columbia is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the wider Houston area (84.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 West Columbia
| Period | West Columbia | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Columbia is the same as the national rate: 5.4% of the labor force. The rate is lower than in the Houston area overall (6.2%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
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).
West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Columbia | 2.67 | 35.6 | 6.9% | 21.2% | 13.8% | 1991 | $1,127 | 21.7% | 90.2% | 5.4% |
| Wild Peach Village | 2.66 | 44.9 | 7.1% | 10.5% | 11.0% | 1992 | $1,171 | 15.7% | 82.1% | 4.8% |
| Sweeny | 2.58 | 42.0 | 7.9% | 21.5% | 15.6% | 1977 | $1,382 | 22.7% | 92.9% | 3.1% |
| Baileys Prairie | 2.84 | 42.9 | 6.8% | 16.6% | 9.7% | 1995 | $1,109 | 25.6% | 90.3% | 7.6% |
| Old Brazoria | 2.68 | 46.1 | 8.3% | 14.4% | 15.6% | 1990 | $1,239 | 27.5% | 89.6% | 4.7% |
| Old Ocean | 1.56 | 74.0 | 2.7% | 6.5% | 28.9% | 1967 | $1,941 | 14.1% | 84.1% | 11.5% |
| Brazoria | 2.72 | 41.9 | 8.5% | 17.7% | 27.5% | 1987 | $1,137 | 16.8% | 84.8% | 3.7% |
| Holiday Lakes | 3.14 | 38.9 | 14.0% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 1986 | $1,348 | 11.5% | 76.0% | 7.4% |
| Damon | 2.59 | 49.4 | 6.8% | 18.2% | 17.0% | 1994 | $1,055 | 21.2% | 75.0% | 10.9% |
| Lake Jackson Farms | 2.75 | 36.7 | 7.9% | 15.7% | 2.7% | 1989 | $1,590 | 1.2% | 65.0% | 4.5% |
| Danciger | 2.65 | 45.9 | 4.8% | 18.8% | 24.1% | 2001 | $1,300 | 17.5% | 76.3% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Waretown, NJ · Broadway, VA · Brooklyn, CT · Brookville, IN · Brownsville, PA · Buna, TX · Byron, IL · Washington, IA · Wartburg, TN · Warrenville, SC
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 West 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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