The Town FilesColumbus, Michigan
Township in St. Clair County · population 4,112 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,200
- Household income
- $93,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.9
Columbus is a township of 4,112 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $323,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 94% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 89% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Columbus ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbus is worth $323,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $93,844, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,430 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,430 | $955 |
| Median household income | $93,844 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 21, 1953 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 26, 1978.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 42,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,695 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Columbus
- Richmond, MI4.9 mi · 5,878 people · home $237,700
- Wales, MI5.9 mi · 3,180 people · home $273,700
- Richmond, MI6.3 mi · 3,544 people · home $378,800
- St. Clair, MI6.5 mi · 7,085 people · home $334,600
- Casco, MI6.6 mi · 3,990 people · home $303,200
- China, MI8.6 mi · 3,509 people · home $322,600
- Riley, MI8.8 mi · 3,199 people · home $348,500
- Kimball, MI8.8 mi · 9,609 people · home $197,500
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 54% of Michigan towns and quieter than 52%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $323,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,844, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,430 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 46.6 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 21, 1953. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)