The Town FilesColumbia, Illinois
City in Monroe County · population 10,999 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $293,000
- Household income
- $107,606
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 42.4
Columbia is a city of 10,999 people in Monroe County, Illinois. The median home is worth $293,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 88% of Illinois towns, better for families than 80% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $293,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $107,606, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,128 a month. 82.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,128 | $960 |
| Median household income | $107,606 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 25, 1956 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 43 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 172 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 8,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,706 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Columbia
4 public schools with 1,942 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Middle School | 5-8 | 613 | 16.6 |
| Columbia High School | 9-12 | 597 | 16.1 |
| Parkview Elementary School | 2-4 | 436 | 16.8 |
| Eagleview Elementary School | PK-1 | 296 | 13.5 |
Towns near Columbia
- Dupo, IL4.0 mi · 3,996 people · home $113,800
- Oakville, MO5.6 mi · 36,301 people · home $318,600
- Mehlville, MO6.1 mi · 28,955 people · home $218,400
- Lemay, MO6.4 mi · 17,117 people · home $152,200
- Millstadt, IL7.0 mi · 4,071 people · home $230,500
- Green Park, MO8.0 mi · 2,705 people · home $238,800
- Concord, MO8.2 mi · 17,668 people · home $303,600
- Arnold, MO8.6 mi · 20,858 people · home $220,000
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 48% of Illinois towns and quieter than 43%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $293,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,606, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,128 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 25, 1956. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)