What are the schools like in Columbus, TX?

Columbus is served primarily by COLUMBUS ISD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Columbus?

The median household income in Columbus, TX is $56,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Columbus, TX?

Columbus has an average high temperature of 64.1°F in January and 96.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Columbus, TX affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbus is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $226,100 and the median rent is $856 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Columbus, TX?

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 157.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 865.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbus, TX a Good Place to Live?

Columbus is a small town of 3,686 in Texas, with a median household income of $56,250 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Columbus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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: 94.3

Columbus's overall cost of living index is 94.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbus costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Columbus, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$226,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$856	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Columbus's violent crime rate is 157.3 per 100,000 residents — 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

157.3 /100k

Property Crime

865.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Columbus is served primarily by COLUMBUS ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbus, TX	National Avg
School District	COLUMBUS ISD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbus sees average highs of 64.1°F in January and 96.0°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Columbus, TX
Average High — January	64.1°F
Average High — July	96.0°F
Annual Precipitation	45.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Columbus, TX	National Avg
Population	3,686	—
Median Age	47.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.6%	22.2%
65 and over	29.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glidden, TX 2 mi Ellinger, TX 13 mi New Ulm, TX 13 mi Weimar, TX 13 mi Rock Island, TX 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbus

Columbus, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

78934

Columbus vs Other Cities

Columbus, TX vs Glidden, TX Columbus, TX vs Ellinger, TX Columbus, TX vs New Ulm, TX Columbus, TX vs Weimar, TX Columbus, TX vs Rock Island, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus, TX affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Columbus roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $226,100 and median rent is $856/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbus, TX?

Columbus's violent crime rate is 157.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 865.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Columbus?

Public schools in Columbus are operated by COLUMBUS ISD. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbus, TX a good place to live?

Columbus, TX has a population of 3,686, a median household income of $56,250, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Columbus?

Columbus averages 64.1°F in January and 96.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbus?

Columbus, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78934.

What is the population of Columbus?

The population of Columbus, Texas is 3,686 with a median age of 47.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Columbus?

Key numbers for living in Columbus: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $226,100, median household income $56,250, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.