Below Average CostNear National AverageMaury County
Downtown Columbia, Tennessee · Hmil6 / CC BY-SA 4.0Mule Day 2025 · Hmil6 / CC BY-SA 4.0JamesKPolkHome · ProhibitOnions at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Historic American Buildings Survey, W. Jeter Eason, Deputy District Officer, Photographer June 6, 1936 DETAIL OF WEST ELEVATION. - Clifton Place, State Highway 6, Columbia, HABS TENN,60-COLUM.V,1-1 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Columbia is a small city of 42,474 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $58,110
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Columbia stands out for below-average home prices.
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: 97.4
Columbia's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Columbia costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Columbia, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$235,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,068
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,110
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Columbia's violent crime rate is 573.2 per 100,000 residents
— 51% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
573.2 /100k
Property Crime
2487.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Columbia is served primarily by Maury County.
Metric
Columbia, TN
National Avg
School District
Maury County
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Columbia sees average highs of 47.9°F in January
and 88.8°F in July,
with 56.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Columbia's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Columbia roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $235,800 and median rent is $1,068/month.
Columbia's violent crime rate is 573.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2487.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Columbia are operated by Maury County.
The district has 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Columbia, TN has a population of 42,474, a median household income of $58,110, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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 47.9°F in January and 88.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.3 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Columbia, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38401.
The population of Columbia, Tennessee is 42,474 with a median age of 36.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Columbia: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $235,800, median household income $58,110, crime index 138 (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.
