Columbia, Missouri
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Columbia, MO.
This profile is Columbia, MO. Looking for Columbia, SC?
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Columbia, MO?
For relocators asking how much Columbia costs: the housing index sits at 84 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $268,300 and rents near $1,067. Local median income is about $64,488 and unemployment recently ran 3.6% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 15 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 320.8 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 84U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $268,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,067U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $64,488U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 15 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 320.8per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Columbia 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
- 130,900City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $64,488Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 84ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year16% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $268,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year12% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,067City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year21% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 20260.6 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 15 min40% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 320.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)43% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2594per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)14% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 25°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 41.4 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals25% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 254As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Columbia grew 19.6% from 109,429 in 2010 to 130,900 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Columbia, MO expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Columbia's housing cost index is 84 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($268,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,067 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 84 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $268,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,067 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Columbia, MO?
Typical ownership costs center near $268,300, while median gross rent is about $1,067 a month. Against a median household income of $64,488, rent alone is roughly 20% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $268,300
- Median rent $1,067/month
- Median household income $64,488
What is the job market like in Columbia, MO?
County unemployment recently ran 3.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Columbia is about $64,488 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $64,488
How long is the typical commute in Columbia, MO?
Average one-way commute time is about 15 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 15 minutes average one-way
Is Columbia, MO safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 320.8 per 100k and property about 2594 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 320.8 per 100k
- Property 2594 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Columbia, MO?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 25°F, about 41.4 inches of rain, and roughly 254 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 25°F
- 41.4 in rain · 254 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Columbia, MO?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, The District, South Providence — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- The District
- South Providence
Columbia (pop. 130,900) sits in Missouri. Households here report a median income near $64,488; our housing-derived cost index is about 84 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $268,300 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Continental seasons and a central U.S. logistics position shape daily life. Pack for 87°F summer peaks; winter mornings often settle near 25°F. Commutes average near 15 minutes one-way. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 3.6% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates around 320.8 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Downtown and The District, then compare against South Providence once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Columbia with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- The District
- South Providence
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 (Columbia city, Missouri, 1600000US2915670) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Boone County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003945 COLUMBIA RGNL 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