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Economy, jobs and prices in Columbia, Tennessee: official figures

The median household income in Columbia was $63,719 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 195th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Tennessee median $69,595.

Median household income
$63,719
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
2.6%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
28.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,197
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$308,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
63.3%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.1%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Columbia?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Columbia averaged $32,500 a year in 2020-2024, 162nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Tennessee: $39,437).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Columbia?

Columbia's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.427 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 244th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Columbia, Tennessee?

2.6% of the civilian labor force in Columbia was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (596 people), 21st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Tennessee's 4.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Columbia are working?

64.1% of Columbia's 35,216 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 310th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Columbia have jobs?

21,987 residents of Columbia held civilian jobs, 62.4% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%); the survey counted no residents in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Columbia?

The largest industry group for working residents of Columbia was education, health care and social assistance (25.1% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (14.9%) and retail trade (11.7%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Columbia work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 14.9% of working residents of Columbia, 95th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 9.4% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Columbia, Tennessee?

Commuters in Columbia took 28.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 225th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 10.9% travelled an hour or more and 29.1% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Columbia get to work?

12.8% of workers living in Columbia worked from home in 2020-2024, 360th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 76.1% drove to work alone, 8.2% carpooled, 0.1% used public transport and 2.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Columbia, Tennessee?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Columbia was $1,197 a month in 2020-2024, 197th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Tennessee: $1,189).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Columbia?

Owner-occupied homes in Columbia had a median value of $308,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 286th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Tennessee: $286,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Columbia?

The median home value in Columbia was 4.8 times the median household income, 382nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Columbia, Tennessee own their home?

63.3% of the 18,039 occupied homes in Columbia were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 6,612 were rented, 288th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Tennessee: 66.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Columbia have broadband?

91.1% of households in Columbia had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 267th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Tennessee: 89.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Columbia have no internet?

7.3% of households in Columbia (1,309) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 179th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 7.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Columbia compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 629 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
626Laredo$63,915
627Grand Island$63,795
628Fort Myers$63,732
629Columbia$63,719
630Lancaster$63,690
631Auburn$63,668
632Miami Gardens$63,627
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 662 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
659Tucson$32,537
660Fresno$32,519
661Ontario$32,506
662Columbia$32,500
663Athens$32,491
664Oxnard$32,428
665Nampa$32,417
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 580 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
577Twin Falls0.427
578Gardena0.427
579La Habra0.427
580Columbia0.427
581Yakima0.427
582Carson0.427
583Cary0.427
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 803 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
800Madison2.7%
801Logan2.6%
802Sandy2.6%
803Columbia2.6%
804Greenwood2.6%
805Sherman2.6%
806Rapid City2.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 514 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
511Fort Lauderdale64.2%
512Greenville64.2%
513Torrance64.1%
514Columbia64.1%
515West Haven64.1%
516Pocatello64.1%
517Bartlett64.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 225 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
222Deerfield Beach28.2
223Novato28.1
224Avondale28.1
225Columbia28.0
226Citrus Heights28.0
227Grand Prairie28.0
228Waterbury28.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 464 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
461Gilroy12.8%
462Warren12.8%
463Deerfield Beach12.8%
464Columbia12.8%
465Elgin12.8%
466Everett12.7%
467Miramar12.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 778 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
775Southaven0.1%
776Little Elm0.1%
777Lake Charles0.1%
778Columbia0.1%
779Casa Grande0.1%
780Wellington0.1%
781Surprise0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 95 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
92Casa Grande15.0%
93Hamilton15.0%
94Lancaster15.0%
95Columbia14.9%
96Marysville14.8%
97Ogden14.7%
98Eden Prairie14.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 241 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
238Fishers25.1%
239Joplin25.1%
240Topeka25.1%
241Columbia25.1%
242Apple Valley25.1%
243Carmel25.0%
244Norwalk25.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 627 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
624Bloomington$1,200
625Delano$1,199
626Greer$1,198
627Columbia$1,197
628Wyoming$1,196
629Bryan$1,195
630College Station$1,194
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 538 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
535Bradenton$309,400
536Sanford$309,300
537West Des Moines$309,000
538Columbia$308,700
539Rogers$308,200
540Burleson$308,200
541Melbourne$306,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 379 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
376Clovis4.9x
377South Jordan4.9x
378Parker4.8x
379Columbia4.8x
380Peoria4.8x
381Herriman4.8x
382Durham4.8x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 288 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
285Santa Fe63.6%
286Grand Junction63.5%
287North Richland Hills63.5%
288Columbia63.3%
289Moreno Valley63.3%
290Decatur63.3%
291Delray Beach63.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 557 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
554Kentwood91.1%
555Dearborn Heights91.1%
556Yuba City91.1%
557Columbia91.1%
558Tallahassee91.1%
559Monterey Park91.0%
560Worcester91.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Columbia ranks 179 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
176Houston7.3%
177Lansing7.3%
178Pittsburgh7.3%
179Columbia7.3%
180Yuba City7.2%
181Tulsa7.2%
182San Bernardino7.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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