Columbia is a small town of 173 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $56,146
.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Columbia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, 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: 92.4
Columbia's overall cost of living index is 92.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Columbia costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Columbia, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$137,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,021
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
86.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,146
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Columbia's violent crime rate is 236.9 per 100,000 residents
— 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
236.9 /100k
Property Crime
1099.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Columbia, SD
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
19.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Columbia sees average highs of 21.5°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 22.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.8 inches of snow per year.
Columbia's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Columbia roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $137,500 and median rent is $1,021/month.
Columbia's violent crime rate is 236.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1099.4 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.
Columbia, SD has a population of 173, a median household income of $56,146, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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 21.5°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.5 inches
with about 37.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Columbia, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57433.
The population of Columbia, South Dakota is 173 with a median age of 31.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Columbia: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $137,500, median household income $56,146, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.