What are the schools like in Columbia, PA?

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia Borough SD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Columbia?

The median household income in Columbia, PA is $50,309 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Columbia, PA?

Columbia has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Columbia, PA 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 $156,100 and the median rent is $1,039 per month.

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

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 296.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2029.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbia, PA a Good Place to Live?

Columbia is a small city of 10,203 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $50,309 and a 4.2% 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, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,039	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,309	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Columbia's violent crime rate is 296.8 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

296.8 /100k

Property Crime

2029.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Columbia is served primarily by Columbia Borough SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbia, PA	National Avg
School District	Columbia Borough SD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbia sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 44.8 inches of annual precipitation and 23.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbia, PA
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	44.8"
Annual Snowfall	23.2"

Demographics

Metric	Columbia, PA	National Avg
Population	10,203	—
Median Age	42.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	16.4%	22.2%
65 and over	21.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wrightsville, PA 2 mi Washington Boro, PA 2 mi Mountville, PA 3 mi Marietta, PA 3 mi East Prospect, PA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbia

Columbia, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

17512

Columbia vs Other Cities

Columbia, PA vs Wrightsville, PA Columbia, PA vs Washington Boro, PA Columbia, PA vs Mountville, PA Columbia, PA vs Marietta, PA Columbia, PA vs East Prospect, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia, PA 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 $156,100 and median rent is $1,039/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbia, PA?

Columbia's violent crime rate is 296.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2029.7 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 Borough SD. The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbia, PA a good place to live?

Columbia, PA has a population of 10,203, a median household income of $50,309, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 37.4°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.8 inches with about 23.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbia?

Columbia, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 17512.

What is the population of Columbia?

The population of Columbia, Pennsylvania is 10,203 with a median age of 42.7. 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 $156,100, median household income $50,309, crime index 86 (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.