The Town FilesColumbia, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lancaster County · population 10,207 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,500
- Household income
- $54,437
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.8
Columbia is a borough of 10,207 people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $196,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $196,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $54,437, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,075 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,075 | $996 |
| Median household income | $54,437 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 6, 1991 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 252,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,966 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Columbia
4 public schools with 1,250 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park El Sch | K-4 | 481 | 12.0 |
| Columbia HS | 9-12 | 363 | 13.0 |
| Columbia MS Taylor Campus | 5-6 | 209 | 14.9 |
| Columbia MS Hill Campus | 7-8 | 197 | 12.3 |
Towns near Columbia
- West Hempfield, PA2.0 mi · 17,020 people · home $302,400
- Mountville, PA3.3 mi · 3,017 people · home $279,700
- Marietta, PA3.3 mi · 2,623 people · home $211,600
- Maytown, PA5.0 mi · 4,098 people · home $324,300
- East Donegal, PA5.0 mi · 8,684 people · home $331,300
- Mount Joy, PA5.3 mi · 8,325 people · home $266,500
- Hellam, PA5.4 mi · 5,923 people · home $227,600
- Salunga, PA5.4 mi · 2,963 people · home $280,900
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 30% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 16%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $196,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,437, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,075 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.2 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 6, 1991. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)