Moving to Columbia
What you need to know before relocating to Columbia, Missouri. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Columbia a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Columbia compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,084/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($259,100) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market.
Columbia at a Glance
Cost of Living in Columbia
The median rent in Columbia is $1,084/month, while the median home value is $259,100. With a median household income of $69,375, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Columbia metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Columbia has a median household income of $69,375, which is 7% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Columbia
The violent crime rate in Columbia is 459 per 100,000 residents, which is 21% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 2095 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Missouri
Missouri has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $14,703/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
34% of Missouri adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Missouri has 288 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.7% uninsured rate, and 3.0 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Missouri is 76.5 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Columbia
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,084/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($259,100) are well below the US median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market
- ✓High school graduation rate of 91%
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (100470 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia a good place to live?⌄
Columbia, Missouri has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,084/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($259,100) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Columbia?⌄
The median rent in Columbia is $1,084/month and the median home value is $259,100. The median household income is $69,375. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Columbia safe?⌄
Columbia has a violent crime rate of 459 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Columbia?⌄
Columbia has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $69,375.