The Town FilesColumbia, Kentucky
City in Adair County · population 4,845 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,600
- Household income
- $47,299
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 28.2
Columbia is a city of 4,845 people in Adair County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $143,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 95% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Kentucky towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $143,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $47,299, which is more affordable than 53% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $757 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,600 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $757 | $837 |
| Median household income | $47,299 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1971 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 5, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Adair County since 1996
Adair County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Adair County
Adair County had 4,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,613 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Columbia
5 public schools with 2,644 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County High School | 9-12 | 796 | 14.0 |
| Adair County Primary Center | PK-2 | 657 | 14.0 |
| Adair County Middle School | 6-8 | 566 | 14.9 |
| Adair County Elementary School | 3-5 | 564 | 15.2 |
| Adair Learning Academy | 5-12 | 61 | 10.2 |
Towns near Columbia
- Russell Springs, KY13.0 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
- Campbellsville, KY16.8 mi · 11,426 people · home $164,600
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 95% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 31%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.2).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $143,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,299, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $757 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1971. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)