Columbia County, Florida Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Columbia County is located in Florida with a total population of 70,755. It is the 41st most populous county out of 67 in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia County is 40.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia County is $55,070. This is 23% lower than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.0%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $186,400. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.4%) is well below the state average of 26.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.8%.

Education

16.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.5%.