The Town FilesColumbia, North Carolina
Town in Tyrrell County · population 610 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,000
- Household income
- $25,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.7
Columbia is a town of 610 people in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $120,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of North Carolina towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $120,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $25,893, which is more affordable than 24% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 49.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $678 | $969 |
| Median household income | $25,893 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.6% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 55.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 26, 2011 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Tyrrell County since 1996
Tyrrell County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Tyrrell County
Tyrrell County had 963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,054 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Columbia
3 public schools with 463 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High | 9-13 | 193 | 13.8 |
| Tyrrell Elementary | PK-5 | 178 | 11.9 |
| Columbia Middle | 6-8 | 92 | 11.5 |
Towns near Columbia
- Cape Colony, NC20.3 mi · 691 people · home $221,400
- Hertford, NC21.6 mi · 1,934 people · home $176,500
- Edenton, NC22.1 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
- Winfall, NC23.3 mi · 555 people · home $401,200
- Elizabeth City, NC25.6 mi · 18,631 people · home $187,700
- Manns Harbor, NC25.8 mi · 790 people · home $253,000
- Camden, NC28.0 mi · 620 people · home $398,700
- Plymouth, NC28.8 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 80% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $120,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,893, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 26, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)