What are the schools like in Columbia, IL?

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia CUSD 4. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Columbia?

The median household income in Columbia, IL is $106,603 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.6%.

What is the weather like in Columbia, IL?

Columbia has an average high temperature of 40.7°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Columbia, IL affordable or expensive?

Columbia's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbia is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $277,100 and the median rent is $1,047 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Columbia is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Columbia, IL a Good Place to Live?

Columbia is a small city of 11,036 in Illinois, with a median household income of $106,603 and a 0.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Columbia stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 96.3

Columbia's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbia costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Columbia, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$277,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,047	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$106,603	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Columbia is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia CUSD 4. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbia, IL	National Avg
School District	Columbia CUSD 4	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbia sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.5°F in July, with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation and 8.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbia, IL
Average High — January	40.7°F
Average High — July	88.5°F
Annual Precipitation	45.1"
Annual Snowfall	8.8"

Demographics

Metric	Columbia, IL	National Avg
Population	11,036	—
Median Age	41.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	25.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dupo, IL 4 mi Oakville, MO 6 mi East Carondelet, IL 6 mi Mehlville, MO 6 mi Lemay, MO 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbia

Columbia, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62236

Columbia vs Other Cities

Columbia, IL vs Dupo, IL Columbia, IL vs Oakville, MO Columbia, IL vs East Carondelet, IL Columbia, IL vs Mehlville, MO Columbia, IL vs Lemay, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia, IL affordable or expensive?

Columbia's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Columbia roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $277,100 and median rent is $1,047/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbia, IL?

Crime data for Columbia is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Columbia?

Public schools in Columbia are operated by Columbia CUSD 4. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 51.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbia, IL a good place to live?

Columbia, IL has a population of 11,036, a median household income of $106,603, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%. 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 40.7°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches with about 8.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbia?

Columbia, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62236.

What is the population of Columbia?

The population of Columbia, Illinois is 11,036 with a median age of 41.5. 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 96 (100 = US average), median home $277,100, median household income $106,603, schools rated A. 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.