The Town FilesColumbus, New York
Town in Chenango County · population 898 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,700
- Household income
- $58,889
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 43.6
Columbus is a town of 898 people in Chenango County, New York. The median home is worth $124,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 76% of New York towns.
How Columbus 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 Columbus is worth $124,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $58,889, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,500 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,500 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $58,889 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 91.1% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 30, 2026 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 29, 2013.
Severe weather in Chenango County since 1996
Chenango County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Chenango County
Chenango County had 17,279 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,170 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Columbus
- New Berlin, NY5.0 mi · 901 people · home $108,100
- Sherburne, NY5.7 mi · 3,973 people · home $149,300
- Edmeston, NY6.0 mi · 1,907 people · home $147,400
- Edmeston, NY6.0 mi · 592 people · home $143,400
- Sherburne, NY6.5 mi · 1,360 people · home $139,500
- New Berlin, NY6.9 mi · 2,525 people · home $144,500
- Pittsfield, NY7.3 mi · 1,312 people · home $125,700
- Brookfield, NY8.2 mi · 2,247 people · home $152,800
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 12% of New York towns and quieter than 76%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $124,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,889, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 77.1 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 30, 2026. 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)