Columbus, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Columbus, Illinois had a total population of 106, the 1323rd largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $75,000, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
- Unemployment rate of 14.3% is notably above the national average.
Columbus Quick Facts
How Columbus Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 105 | 106 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $72,500 | $75,000 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $105,400 | $111,400 | +5.7% |
How Columbus Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Columbus Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Adams County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy | 39,109 | $56,480 | 16.7% | $153,200 |
| Camp Point | 1,230 | $62,188 | 14.9% | $127,800 |
| Mendon | 1,167 | $65,781 | 15.7% | $111,600 |
| Payson | 1,100 | $60,478 | 12.4% | $132,000 |
| Ursa | 726 | $64,375 | 10.7% | $161,900 |
| Golden | 693 | $55,000 | 6.4% | $122,800 |
| Clayton | 602 | $66,136 | 12.7% | $91,500 |
| Liberty | 409 | $78,977 | 6.4% | $137,500 |
| Loraine | 341 | $58,750 | 8.8% | $83,600 |
| Lima | 224 | $74,375 | 4.9% | $88,800 |
Cities Similar to Columbus
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 106 | N/A | N/A | 79.2% | 0.0% |
| Hartland | 105 | N/A | N/A | 12.4% | N/A |
| Old Shawneetown | 102 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 43.1% |
| Browning | 99 | N/A | $71,400 | 7.1% | 4.0% |
| Littleton | 105 | $64,792 | $104,700 | 26.4% | 11.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 106, Columbus's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Columbus is a small community located in Illinois, within Adams County. The total population is 106. It ranks as the 1323rd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Columbus is 36.4 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 28.3% of the population under 18, Columbus has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Columbus is $75,000. This is 10% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 14.3%. This is 145% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $111,400. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Columbus is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Columbus was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 99.1% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Columbus, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Illinois city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Columbus, Illinois?
Columbus, Illinois has a population of 106 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Columbus, IL?
The median household income in Columbus is $75,000, which is 7% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Columbus, IL?
The poverty rate in Columbus is 10.4%. This means approximately 11 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Columbus, Illinois?
Columbus's population is 99.1% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Columbus, IL?
The median home value in Columbus is $111,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Columbus, Illinois?
19.1% of adults (25+) in Columbus hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.