The Town FilesColumbia, California
Community in Tuolumne County · population 2,577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,200
- Household income
- $58,520
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 49.8
Columbia is a community of 2,577 people in Tuolumne County, California. The median home is worth $376,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks easier by car than 71% of California towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $376,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $58,520, which is more affordable than 50% of California towns. Median rent is $1,217 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,200 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,217 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $58,520 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 97.1°F and January lows 38.2°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 11, 2023 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 11, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 11, 2023.
Severe weather in Tuolumne County since 1996
Tuolumne County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2026 | Fire | FM-5652: Dove Fire |
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County had 18,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,725 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Columbia
1 public school with 450 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Elementary | K-8 | 450 | 18.0 |
Towns near Columbia
- Sonora, CA3.8 mi · 5,003 people · home $422,300
- Jamestown, CA5.1 mi · 3,478 people · home $374,600
- Phoenix Lake, CA5.8 mi · 4,264 people · home $488,500
- Mono Vista, CA7.9 mi · 3,236 people · home $427,800
- Angels, CA8.0 mi · 3,667 people · home $484,800
- Copperopolis, CA13.2 mi · 3,400 people · home $487,200
- Arnold, CA15.4 mi · 3,288 people · home $485,700
- Pine Mountain Lake, CA17.3 mi · 2,636 people · home $426,500
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 67% of California towns and quieter than 64%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $376,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,520, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,217 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 97.1°F and January lows 38.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 11, 2023. The typical California town has had 2.
- 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)