The Town FilesColumbia, Missouri
City in Boone County · population 126,254 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $284,600
- Household income
- $66,498
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 29.5
Columbia is a city of 126,254 people in Boone County, Missouri. The median home is worth $284,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 98% of Missouri towns, hipper than 89% of Missouri towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $284,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $66,498, which is more affordable than 4% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 48.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $284,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $855 |
| Median household income | $66,498 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 44.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 10, 1998 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 132 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 12, 2006.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 98,657 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,677 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Columbia
39 public schools with 18,789 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROCK BRIDGE SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 2,056 | 19.2 |
| DAVID H. HICKMAN HIGH | 9-12 | 2,035 | 16.7 |
| MURIEL BATTLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,508 | 14.1 |
| ANN HAWKINS GENTRY MID. SCHOOL | 6-8 | 730 | 13.0 |
| BEULAH RALPH ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 677 | 15.7 |
| MARY PAXTON KEELEY ELEM. | PK-5 | 638 | 16.4 |
| JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 621 | 12.9 |
| MILL CREEK ELEM. | PK-5 | 585 | 17.2 |
| ROCK BRIDGE ELEM. | PK-5 | 584 | 15.8 |
| JOHN WARNER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 555 | 12.6 |
| OAKLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 550 | 11.7 |
| SHEPARD BLVD. ELEM. | PK-5 | 547 | 14.0 |
Towns near Columbia
- Ashland, MO10.4 mi · 4,747 people · home $258,500
- Centralia, MO20.9 mi · 4,541 people · home $174,300
- Fulton, MO21.2 mi · 12,600 people · home $155,900
- Boonville, MO22.6 mi · 7,964 people · home $187,900
- Holts Summit, MO23.7 mi · 4,458 people · home $191,900
- Fayette, MO23.7 mi · 2,803 people · home $146,700
- California, MO25.5 mi · 4,498 people · home $152,700
- Jefferson City, MO27.5 mi · 43,228 people · home $218,700
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 26% of Missouri towns and quieter than 10%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.5).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $284,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,498, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 10, 1998. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)