Columbus, Georgia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Columbus, GA.
This profile is Columbus, GA. Looking for Columbus, OH?
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Columbus, GA?
Columbus planning snapshot: population 201,830, housing index 70 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $182,300, median rent $1,072, and income near $56,622. Expect 92°F summer highs, 40°F winter lows, and about 18-minute one-way commutes. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 70U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $182,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,072U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $56,622U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 18 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 92°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Columbus compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 201,830City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $56,622Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year28% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 70ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year30% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $182,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year40% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,072City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year20% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 18 min28% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Summer high
- 92°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 40°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 48.8 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals47% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 256As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Columbus grew 5.6% from 191,101 in 2010 to 201,830 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Columbus, GA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Columbus's housing cost index is 70 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($182,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,072 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 70 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $182,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,072 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Columbus, GA?
Typical ownership costs center near $182,300, while median gross rent is about $1,072 a month. Against a median household income of $56,622, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $182,300
- Median rent $1,072/month
- Median household income $56,622
What is the job market like in Columbus, GA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Columbus is about $56,622 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $56,622
How long is the typical commute in Columbus, GA?
Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 18 minutes average one-way
Is Columbus, GA safer than similar U.S. cities?
MapsToIt could not publish a usable FBI agency crime rate for Columbus in the latest pull. Treat safety as a block-by-block research task and check local PD reports.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Columbus, GA?
Normals show summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 40°F, about 48.8 inches of rain, and roughly 256 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 92°F
- Winter low 40°F
- 48.8 in rain · 256 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Columbus, GA?
Newcomers often start with Uptown, Midtown, Midland — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Uptown
- Midtown
- Midland
Piedmont heat and a sprawling logistics/job belt shape commute realities. Expect summer highs near 92°F and winter lows around 40°F. Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes. Labor-market readings near 4.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Crime rates are marked unavailable for this municipality; do not rely on a citywide index.
Columbus, Georgia counts about 201,830 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $56,622 and a cost index of 70, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $182,300 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Ask locals about Uptown versus Midtown — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with Midland as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Columbus with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Uptown
- Midtown
- Midland
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Columbus city, Georgia, 1600000US1319000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Muscogee County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093842 COLUMBUS METRO AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19