The Town FilesColumbus, Georgia
City in Muscogee County · population 206,922 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $58,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 35.4
Columbus is a city of 206,922 people in Muscogee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $193,900, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 89% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 85% of Georgia towns.
How Columbus ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbus is worth $193,900, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $58,073, which is more affordable than 54% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,106 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,106 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $58,073 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 14.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 3, 2019 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 527 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on November 1, 1997.
Severe weather in Muscogee County since 1996
Muscogee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Muscogee County
Muscogee County had 89,176 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,578 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Columbus
56 public schools with 29,758 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | 9-12 | 1,417 | 15.9 |
| Shaw High School | 9-12 | 1,220 | 16.7 |
| Columbus High School | 9-12 | 1,131 | 18.5 |
| Hardaway High School | 9-12 | 1,097 | 13.7 |
| Spencer High School | 9-12 | 1,004 | 17.9 |
| Jordan Vocational High School | 9-12 | 969 | 12.6 |
| Kendrick High School | 9-12 | 903 | 16.4 |
| Carver High School | 9-12 | 903 | 15.8 |
| Richards Middle School | 6-8 | 809 | 17.2 |
| North Columbus Elementary | PK-5 | 746 | 15.5 |
| Mathews Elementary School | PK-5 | 710 | 17.3 |
| Eagle Ridge Academy | PK-5 | 674 | 14.0 |
Towns near Columbus
- Phenix City, AL9.9 mi · 38,816 people · home $170,300
- Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government, GA12.3 mi · 9,565 people · home $102,700
- Ladonia, AL13.0 mi · 3,074 people · home $102,000
- Smiths Station, AL13.1 mi · 5,384 people · home $203,300
- Valley, AL27.3 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- Manchester, GA27.9 mi · 3,584 people · home $135,500
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 18% of Georgia towns and quieter than 9%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,073, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 3, 2019. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- 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)