Columbia city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Columbia city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 11,063. It ranks as the 207th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia city is 39.9 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia city is $107,922. This is 32% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.0%. This is 58% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 83% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $290,100. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Columbia city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Columbia city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.1% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

51.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Columbia city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.2%. Notably, 21.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Columbia city, Illinois 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 Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.