Columbia city, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Columbia city is a small community located in Kentucky. The total population is 4,842. It ranks as the 89th most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia city is 27.9 years. This is 29% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia city is $45,221. This is 28% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 42% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.5%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $123,500. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Columbia city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 43.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.5%. The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.5% vs 4.7%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

19.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Columbia city, Kentucky 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 Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. For official data, visit data.census.gov.