Columbia County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Columbia County is located in Georgia with a total population of 159,638. It is the 15th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia County is 37.5 years. This is about average than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia County is $96,122. This is 29% higher than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 22% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.8%. This is 49% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $287,400. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $272,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 17.8%.

Education

37.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Columbia County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.