The Town FilesColumbia, New Hampshire
Town in Coos County · population 659 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,400
- Household income
- $57,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 81 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 51.8
Columbia is a town of 659 people in Coos County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $196,400, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks hipper than 80% of New Hampshire towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $196,400, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $57,917, which is more affordable than 71% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $792 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,400 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $792 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $57,917 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 30.2% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.9% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 92.5% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 0.3°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 81.4 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 26, 2011 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2016.
Severe weather in Coos County since 1996
Coos County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Coos County
Coos County had 11,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,380 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Columbia
- Colebrook, NH5.5 mi · 1,201 people · home $156,700
- Stratford, NH7.0 mi · 662 people · home $161,100
- Colebrook, NH7.4 mi · 2,084 people · home $192,200
- Stewartstown, NH11.2 mi · 813 people · home $210,400
- Canaan, VT12.8 mi · 896 people · home $201,900
- Groveton, NH14.2 mi · 1,068 people · home $104,700
- Northumberland, NH17.1 mi · 2,126 people · home $120,100
- Brighton, VT17.6 mi · 1,157 people · home $163,900
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 45% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 69%. 29.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $196,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,917, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $792 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 0.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 81.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 26, 2011. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- 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)