Columbus is a small town of 851 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $59,196
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Columbus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Columbus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Columbus 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: 91.8
Columbus's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Columbus costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Columbus, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$800
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,196
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Columbus's violent crime rate is 122.5 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.5 /100k
Property Crime
329.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Columbus, PA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Columbus sees average highs of 32.3°F in January
and 80.0°F in July,
with 48.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 224.5 inches of snow per year.
Columbus's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Columbus roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,000 and median rent is $800/month.
Columbus's violent crime rate is 122.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 329.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Columbus, PA has a population of 851, a median household income of $59,196, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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.
Columbus averages 32.3°F in January and 80.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.2 inches
with about 224.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Columbus, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 16405.
The population of Columbus, Pennsylvania is 851 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Columbus: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $108,000, median household income $59,196, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Columbus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
