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: 100.2West 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 AverageWest Columbia's violent crime rate is 277.0 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
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 .
| Metric | West Columbia, TX |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 64.3°F |
| Average High — July | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | West Columbia, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,641 | — |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 29.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 70.7% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 5.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.8% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Columbia
West Columbia, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: