The Town FilesColumbus, Pennsylvania
Community in Warren County · population 678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,900
- Household income
- $59,612
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 145 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 51.7
Columbus is a community of 678 people in Warren County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $110,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 79% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Columbus 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 Columbus is worth $110,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $59,612, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $658 a month. 91.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $658 | $996 |
| Median household income | $59,612 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 15.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 144.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 10 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 12,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,997 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Columbus
- Columbus, PA1.5 mi · 1,604 people · home $155,800
- Corry, PA2.9 mi · 6,210 people · home $96,800
- Wayne, PA5.6 mi · 1,540 people · home $169,900
- Freehold, PA6.8 mi · 1,211 people · home $99,100
- Clymer, NY7.0 mi · 1,753 people · home $163,700
- Concord, PA7.2 mi · 1,277 people · home $124,400
- Spring Creek, PA7.4 mi · 780 people · home $190,000
- French Creek, NY9.2 mi · 1,007 people · home $161,700
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 15% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 79%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $110,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,612, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $658 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 144.6 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. 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)