What are the schools like in Columbia, CA?

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia Union. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.3:1.

What is the median household income in Columbia?

The median household income in Columbia, CA is $50,491 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.3%.

What is the weather like in Columbia, CA?

Columbia has an average high temperature of 57.3°F in January and 97.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.2 inches.

Columbia, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Columbia, CA affordable or expensive?

Columbia's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbia is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $391,600 and the median rent is $870 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Columbia, CA?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 688.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1064.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbia, CA a Good Place to Live?

Columbia is a small town of 2,439 in California, with a median household income of $50,491 and a 8.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Columbia's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Columbia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Columbia city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.2

Columbia's overall cost of living index is 103.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbia costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Columbia, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$391,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$870	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,491	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Columbia's violent crime rate is 688.4 per 100,000 residents — 81% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

688.4 /100k

Property Crime

1064.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia Union. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbia, CA	National Avg
School District	Columbia Union	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbia sees average highs of 57.3°F in January and 97.1°F in July, with 29.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbia, CA
Average High — January	57.3°F
Average High — July	97.1°F
Annual Precipitation	29.8"
Annual Snowfall	0.2"

Demographics

Metric	Columbia, CA	National Avg
Population	2,439	—
Median Age	45.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.7%	18.9%
Asian	2.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.6%	22.2%
65 and over	27.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tuttletown, CA 2 mi Sonora, CA 4 mi Vallecito, CA 5 mi Jamestown, CA 5 mi East Sonora, CA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbia

Columbia, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95310

Columbia vs Other Cities

Columbia, CA vs Tuttletown, CA Columbia, CA vs Sonora, CA Columbia, CA vs Vallecito, CA Columbia, CA vs Jamestown, CA Columbia, CA vs East Sonora, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia, CA affordable or expensive?

Columbia's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Columbia roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $391,600 and median rent is $870/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbia, CA?

Columbia's violent crime rate is 688.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1064.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Columbia?

Public schools in Columbia are operated by Columbia Union. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbia, CA a good place to live?

Columbia, CA has a population of 2,439, a median household income of $50,491, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Columbia?

Columbia averages 57.3°F in January and 97.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.8 inches with about 0.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbia?

Columbia, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95310.

What is the population of Columbia?

The population of Columbia, California is 2,439 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Columbia?

Key numbers for living in Columbia: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $391,600, median household income $50,491, crime index 129 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Columbia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.