Columbus city, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Columbus city is a major urban center located in Georgia. The total population is 204,383. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 670 cities and towns in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbus city is 35.1 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbus city is $56,622. This is 24% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $182,300. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $272,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbus city is Black or African American, making up 45.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.4%.

Education

29.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower 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 89.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Columbus city, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 670 Census-designated places in Georgia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.