Columbia County, New York Demographics 2026

Name: Columbia County, New York Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Columbia County, New York has a population of 61,100, the 40th most populous county in New York. The median household income is $81,528 and the median home value is $347,100. The poverty rate is 12.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Columbia County Quick Facts

Population 61,100

Median Household Income $81,528

Median Home Value $347,100

Poverty Rate 12.1%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Median Age 49.8 years

Homeownership Rate 76.3%

Affordability Ratio 4.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 39.4%

High School Graduation 91.8%

Cities/Places 15

Population 61,100 40th of 62

Median Income $81,528 5% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.1%

Unemployment 5.4%

How Columbia County 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	61,245	61,100	-0.2%
Median household income	$83,619	$81,528	-2.5%
Median home value	$309,800	$347,100	+12.0%

Median Household Income

Columbia

$81,528

$85,974

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Columbia

$347,100

$423,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.5%

$25K-$50K 17.6%

$50K-$100K 24.6%

$100K+ 43.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.5%

$10K-$15K

2.6%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

3.5%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

2.8%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

3.7%

$50K-$60K

6.0%

$60K-$75K

8.8%

$75K-$100K

9.8%

$100K-$125K

10.6%

$125K-$150K

7.9%

$150K-$200K

9.5%

$200K+

15.3%

Employment

5.4% Unemployment Rate State: 6.4%|National: 5.2%

57.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.3%

Renter 23.7%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,260/mo 18.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.9%

18-34

17.0%

35-54

24.3%

55-74

32.0%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Columbia County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hudson	5,865	$54,139	28.2%	$389,900
Lorenz Park	1,991	$85,188	16.9%	$222,000
Valatie	1,796	$100,461	4.1%	$325,100
Chatham	1,669	$79,886	10.7%	$323,100
Philmont	1,439	$56,563	21.6%	$225,000
Niverville	1,181	N/A	12.8%	$302,200
Kinderhook	1,072	$93,250	7.6%	$372,400
Stottville	1,045	$60,872	10.0%	$166,100
Germantown	1,042	$96,563	5.2%	$445,900
Claverack-Red Mills	925	$61,902	0.0%	$392,000
Copake Lake	784	$102,009	0.9%	$610,300
Taconic Shores	606	$177,994	0.8%	$243,300
Ghent	517	$138,446	13.7%	$318,500
Copake	222	$115,938	0.0%	$210,500
Copake Falls	11	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore New York Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Columbia County is located in New York with a total population of 61,100. It is the 40th most populous county out of 62 in New York. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia County is 49.8 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. 10.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia County is $81,528. This is 5% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 14% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $347,100. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $423,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 76.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (82.4% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

39.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%. Notably, 20.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Columbia County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New York and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Columbia County, New York?

Columbia County has a population of 61,100, making it the 40th most populous county in New York.

What is the median income in Columbia County?

The median household income in Columbia County is $81,528 with a poverty rate of 12.1%.

How many cities are in Columbia County, New York?

Columbia County contains 15 Census-designated places.