The Town FilesColumbia, New York
Town in Herkimer County · population 1,569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $90,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.5
Columbia is a town of 1,569 people in Herkimer County, New York. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 92% of New York towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $187,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $90,795, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $847 a month. 87.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $847 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $90,795 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.6% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 22, 2024 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Herkimer County since 1996
Herkimer County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Herkimer County
Herkimer County had 15,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Columbia
- Richfield, NY5.4 mi · 2,065 people · home $146,400
- German Flatts, NY5.4 mi · 12,263 people · home $119,800
- Ilion, NY5.7 mi · 7,646 people · home $108,700
- Warren, NY5.8 mi · 1,029 people · home $192,400
- Mohawk, NY5.9 mi · 2,415 people · home $124,600
- Richfield Springs, NY6.0 mi · 1,050 people · home $132,400
- Winfield, NY6.4 mi · 1,897 people · home $140,500
- Litchfield, NY6.5 mi · 1,444 people · home $206,600
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 40% of New York towns and quieter than 67%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,795, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $847 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 85.5 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 22, 2024. The typical New York 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)