Columbus, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Columbus, Nebraska had a total population of 24,488, the 10th largest city in Nebraska, with a median household income of $64,626, which is 15% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.4%.
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 | 24,188 | 24,488 | +1.2% |
| Median household income | $67,212 | $64,626 | -3.8% |
| Median home value | $198,900 | $213,600 | +7.4% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Columbus Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Platte County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humphrey | 713 | $73,977 | 6.9% | $231,300 |
| Duncan | 612 | $74,688 | 1.4% | $162,500 |
| Lakeview | 447 | $138,397 | 9.8% | $317,200 |
| Platte Center | 318 | $76,250 | 10.8% | $131,700 |
| Lindsay | 313 | $84,167 | 1.3% | $215,000 |
| Monroe | 252 | $75,500 | 8.4% | $126,000 |
| Creston | 170 | $64,792 | 4.7% | $122,700 |
| Cornlea | 42 | N/A | 11.9% | $108,300 |
| Tarnov | 27 | $77,917 | 11.1% | N/A |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | 25,008 | $64,048 | $184,700 | 29.2% | 14.8% |
| Norfolk | 26,054 | $58,884 | $211,700 | 24.0% | 14.3% |
| North Platte | 22,831 | $58,097 | $169,100 | 20.8% | 15.4% |
| Fremont | 27,567 | $71,152 | $214,700 | 21.9% | 11.6% |
| Papillion | 25,244 | $111,679 | $311,000 | 47.9% | 5.3% |
Population Overview
Columbus is a small city located in Nebraska, within Platte County. The total population is 24,488. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Columbus is 37.4 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Columbus is $64,626. This is 15% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.3%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $213,600. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $238,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 66.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbus is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.2%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (28.2% vs 12.7%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
21.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Columbus, Nebraska 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 Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. 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 Nebraska city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Columbus, Nebraska?
Columbus, Nebraska has a population of 24,488 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Columbus, NE?
The median household income in Columbus is $64,626, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Columbus, NE?
The poverty rate in Columbus is 11.3%. This means approximately 2,743 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Columbus, Nebraska?
Columbus's population is 67.6% White, 0.8% Black, 28.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Columbus, NE?
The median home value in Columbus is $213,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Columbus, Nebraska?
21.8% of adults (25+) in Columbus hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.