Median Income
$70,086
household / year
Median Home Value
$141,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$972
gross / month
Cost of Living
100
national avg = 100

Is West Columbia, TX a Good Place to Live?

West Columbia is a small town of 3,641 in Texas, with a median household income of $70,086 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.

Strengths: West Columbia stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Columbia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All West 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: 100.2

West Columbia's overall cost of living index is 100.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Columbia costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.

Metric West Columbia, TX National Avg
Median Home Value $141,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $972 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $70,086 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

West Columbia's violent crime rate is 277.0 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
277.0 /100k
Property Crime
1468.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

West Columbia is served primarily by COLUMBIA-BRAZORIA ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric West Columbia, TX National Avg
School District COLUMBIA-BRAZORIA ISD
Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 2
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 74.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

West Columbia sees average highs of 64.3°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 52.4 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricWest Columbia, TX
Average High — January64.3°F
Average High — July91.0°F
Annual Precipitation52.4"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricWest Columbia, TXNational Avg
Population3,641
Median Age40.938.9
Unemployment Rate5.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time29.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)70.7%59.3%
Black or African American5.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino16.4%18.9%
Asian0.8%6.3%
Under 1821.3%22.2%
65 and over19.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in West Columbia

West Columbia, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

West Columbia vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

West Columbia's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That puts West Columbia roughly 0% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $141,900 and median rent is $972/month.
West Columbia's violent crime rate is 277.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1468.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Columbia are operated by COLUMBIA-BRAZORIA ISD. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Columbia, TX has a population of 3,641, a median household income of $70,086, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
West Columbia averages 64.3°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
West Columbia, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 77486.
The population of West Columbia, Texas is 3,641 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Columbia: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $141,900, median household income $70,086, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West Columbia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.