The Town FilesColumbia, Alabama
Town in Houston County · population 690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,800
- Household income
- $62,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 32.1
Columbia is a town of 690 people in Houston County, Alabama. The median home is worth $156,800, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 82% of Alabama towns, quieter than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $156,800, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $62,000, which is more affordable than 74% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 77.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $760 | $834 |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 34.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 38.2°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on January 9, 2024 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 14, 2023.
Severe weather in Houston County since 1996
Houston County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Houston County
Houston County had 50,877 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,521 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Columbia
1 public school with 336 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County High School | 7-12 | 336 | 16.8 |
Towns near Columbia
- Ashford, AL10.6 mi · 2,246 people · home $180,100
- Webb, AL10.9 mi · 1,270 people · home $113,800
- Blakely, GA12.3 mi · 5,371 people · home $152,500
- Kinsey, AL13.3 mi · 2,203 people · home $132,000
- Cowarts, AL13.3 mi · 1,930 people · home $177,700
- Headland, AL15.1 mi · 4,973 people · home $219,600
- Newville, AL15.9 mi · 544 people · home $107,800
- Dothan, AL18.0 mi · 71,072 people · home $194,000
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 39% of Alabama towns and quieter than 77%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $156,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,000, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 38.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on January 9, 2024. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)