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Columbia, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Columbia, Tennessee had a total population of 45,441, the 19th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $63,719, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.2%.

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

Columbia Quick Facts

Population 45,441
Median Household Income $63,719
Median Home Value $308,700
Poverty Rate 14.2%
Unemployment Rate 2.6%
Median Age 35.5 years
Homeownership Rate 63.3%
Affordability Ratio 4.8x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.4%
High School Graduation Rate 91.4%
Diversity Index 51/100
Population 45,441 19th of 502
Median Income $63,719 above average
Poverty Rate 14.2% 14% higher than national
Median Home Value $308,700 top 20%

How Columbia Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population43,97145,441+3.3%
Median household income$61,204$63,719+4.1%
Median home value$261,700$308,700+18.0%

How Columbia Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.2%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 32.2%
$100K+ 29.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.3%
$10K-$15K
2.8%
$15K-$20K
4.7%
$20K-$25K
3.4%
$25K-$30K
4.9%
$30K-$35K
3.1%
$35K-$40K
3.7%
$40K-$45K
4.2%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
8.3%
$60K-$75K
9.8%
$75K-$100K
14.1%
$100K-$125K
12.0%
$125K-$150K
6.5%
$150K-$200K
6.7%
$200K+
4.5%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
64.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.3%
Renter 36.7%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,197/mo 22.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

51out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Columbia Rankings in Tennessee

#19 Population of 502
#183 Median Income of 453
#134 Education of 502
#91 Home Value of 464

Explore Tennessee 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

Other Cities in Maury County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Mount Pleasant 4,837 $50,108 22.8% $244,400

Cities Similar to Columbia

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Lebanon44,788$72,848$378,40030.8%13.1%
Cleveland48,829$58,559$272,20030.2%16.7%
Gallatin48,532$77,518$372,00033.5%13.0%
La Vergne40,243$81,313$309,90023.7%15.1%
Kingsport56,262$52,490$234,10031.5%20.7%

Population Overview

Columbia is a mid-sized community located in Tennessee, within Maury County. The total population is 45,441. It ranks as the 19th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia is 35.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia is $63,719. This is 8% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $308,700. Housing costs are 8% higher than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.5%.

Education

25.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Columbia, Tennessee 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 Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Columbia, Tennessee?

Columbia, Tennessee has a population of 45,441 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbia, TN?

The median household income in Columbia is $63,719, which is 21% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, TN?

The poverty rate in Columbia is 14.2%. This means approximately 6,316 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Columbia, Tennessee?

Columbia's population is 67.1% White, 16.5% Black, 11.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Columbia, TN?

The median home value in Columbia is $308,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x.

How educated is Columbia, Tennessee?

25.4% of adults (25+) in Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.