Columbia MO downtown area 2017 · Jasongriffin79 / CC BY-SA 4.0Center for Missouri Studies from Peace Park (June 2020) · Grey Wanderer / CC BY-SA 4.0Big Tree with spring picnic · Heath Cajandig / CC BY 2.0Ragtag cinema · Me5000 (talk) / Public domain
Columbia is a mid-sized city of 126,172 in Missouri, with a median household income of $60,455
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Columbia stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, 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: 89.3
Columbia's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Columbia costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Columbia, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$248,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$997
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,455
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Columbia's violent crime rate is 347.5 per 100,000 residents
— 9% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
347.5 /100k
Property Crime
2317.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Columbia is served primarily by COLUMBIA 93.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Columbia, MO
National Avg
School District
COLUMBIA 93
—
Elementary Schools
22
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
55.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Columbia sees average highs of 39.3°F in January
and 88.6°F in July,
with 44.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.4 inches of snow per year.
Columbia's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Columbia roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $248,600 and median rent is $997/month.
Columbia's violent crime rate is 347.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2317.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Columbia are operated by COLUMBIA 93.
The district has 22 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 55.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Columbia, MO has a population of 126,172, a median household income of $60,455, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Columbia averages 39.3°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.8 inches
with about 17.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Columbia, MO is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 65203, 65202, 65201, 65216, 65215.
The population of Columbia, Missouri is 126,172 with a median age of 28.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Columbia: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $248,600, median household income $60,455, crime index 99 (100 = US average, lower is safer), 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.
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