Columbus, GA

Census Place

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2021 Population

204,366

4.58% 1-year growth

US Senator

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

US Senator

Raphael Warnock

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

34.6

0.581% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

19.5%

2.52% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$50,542

6.59% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$146,000

2.17% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

82,847

5.16% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Columbus, GA had a population of 204k people with a median age of 34.6 and a median household income of $50,542. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Columbus, GA grew from 195,418 to 204,366, a 4.58% increase and its median household income grew from $47,418 to $50,542, a 6.59% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbus, GA are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (45.4%), White (Non-Hispanic) (39.2%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.31%), Other (Hispanic) (2.7%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.61%).

None of the households in Columbus, GA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.8% of the residents in Columbus, GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbus, GA are Columbus Technical College (2,213 degrees awarded in 2021), Columbus State University (1,712 degrees), and Miller-Motte College-Columbus (160 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Columbus, GA was $146,000, and the homeownership rate was 48.5%.

Most people in Columbus, GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbus, GA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: River Walk, Columbus, GA

Photo by Visit Columbus GA

United States Georgia Muscogee County, GA Columbus, GA-AL Muscogee & Chattahoochee Counties PUMA, GA

Population & Diversity

Columbus, GA is home to a population of 204k people, from which 97.8% are citizens. As of 2021, 5.14% of Columbus, GA residents were born outside of the country (10.5k people).

In 2021, there were 1.16 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (92.8k people) in Columbus, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 80k White (Non-Hispanic) and 8.8k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.8%

2021 Citizenship

97.7%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 97.8% of Columbus, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Columbus, GA was 97.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Columbus, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbus, GA

Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
92.8k ± 885
White (Non-Hispanic)
80k ± 508
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
8.8k ± 1.05k

7.88%

Hispanic Population

16.1k people

7.88% of the people in Columbus, GA are hispanic (16.1k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Columbus, GA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Georgia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
226,399 ± 11,557 people
India
100,869 ± 7,760 people
Jamaica
46,494 ± 5,282 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 226,399 Georgia residents, followed by India with 100,869 and Jamaica with 46,494.

Foreign-Born Population

5.14%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

10.5k people

5.18%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

10.1k people

As of 2021, 5.14% of Columbus, GA residents (10.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbus, GA was 5.18%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Columbus, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
6,550 ± 773
Vietnam
5,169 ± 519
Gulf War (1990s)
4,574 ± 557

Columbus, GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.27 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Columbus, GA employs 82.8k people. The largest industries in Columbus, GA are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,705 people), Retail Trade (9,703 people), and Manufacturing (8,136 people), and the highest paying industries are Wholesale Trade ($59,318), Finance & Insurance ($53,458), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($52,969).

Males in Georgia have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,211. The income inequality in Georgia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.475, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

82.8k

2021 Value

± 2,709

5.16%

1 Year growth

± 4.32%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Columbus, GA grew at a rate of 5.16%, from 78.8k employees to 82.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbus, GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (10,910 people), Sales & Related Occupations (9,630 people), and Management Occupations (6,813 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbus, GA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Georgia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

82.8k

2021 Value

± 2,709

5.16%

1 Year growth

± 4.32%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Columbus, GA grew at a rate of 5.16%, from 78.8k employees to 82.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbus, GA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,705 people), Retail Trade (9,703 people), and Manufacturing (8,136 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbus, GA, though some of these residents may live in Columbus, GA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$40,525

Median earning men ± $1,314

$29,668

Median earning women ± $1,053

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($72,778), Wholesale Trade ($64,786), and Information ($54,333).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($43,949), Public Administration ($37,040), and Wholesale Trade ($34,844).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Georgia. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Georgia.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Georgia to other states, or from other states to Georgia.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $73.4B, followed by Mixed freight ($67.6B) and Machinery ($50.5B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Georgia products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia.

$625B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

109% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $625B. This is expected to increase 109% to $1.3T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Georgia trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Georgia to other states, or from other states to Georgia.

Most Common Trade Partners

Florida
$59.2B
Tennessee
$36.9B
North Carolina
$32.9B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $59.2B, followed by Tennessee with $36.9B and North Carolina and $32.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Georgia shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.2%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.24%).

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing the state of Georgia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Columbus, GA. Showing the available data for Georgia.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (49.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (49.2%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.24%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.2%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.24%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Georgia for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Georgia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Jon Ossoff

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Inauguration delayed as incumbent senator David Perdue's term expired on January 3, 2021, two days prior to the 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia|runoff election.

Raphael Warnock

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Elected to the seat to succeed Kelly Loeffler, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing Georgia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Georgia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Georgia

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Georgia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Columbus, GA awarded 4,153 degrees. The student population of Columbus, GA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 3,972 male students and 7,331 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbus, GA are Black or African American (1,772 and 43.2%), followed by White (1,749 and 42.6%), Hispanic or Latino (295 and 7.18%), and Two or More Races (118 and 2.87%).

The largest universities in Columbus, GA by number of degrees awarded are Columbus Technical College (2,213 and 53.3%), Columbus State University (1,712 and 41.2%), and Miller-Motte College-Columbus (160 and 3.85%).

The most popular majors in Columbus, GA are Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (307 and 7.39%), General Business Administration & Management (246 and 5.92%), and Registered Nursing (241 and 5.8%).

The median tuition cost in Columbus, GA for a public four year colleges is $4,371 for in-state students and $15,425 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Columbus, GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 78.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 29.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 11,303 (35.1% men and 64.9% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 11,303 students enrolled in Columbus, GA, 35.1% men and 64.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Black or African American with 4,743 records, of which 71.4% were women and 28.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Computer & Information Sciences
59 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
190 degree-majors awarded
General Health Services
63 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Columbus, GA was General Computer & Information Sciences with 59 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Columbus, GA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Columbus Technical College
2,213 degrees awarded
Columbus State University
1,712 degrees awarded
Miller-Motte College-Columbus
160 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Columbus Technical College with 2,213 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,509 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbus, GA, which is 0.571 times less than the 2,644 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Black or African American students. These 1,772 degrees mean that there were 1.01 times more degrees awarded to Black or African American students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 1,749 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($4,371) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,870) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,465) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Measure

In 2021, 1.01% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.946% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (2.29M), Some college (1.78M), and Bachelors Degree (1.52M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Columbus, GA was $146,000 in 2021, which is 0.596 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $142,900 to $146,000, a 2.17% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbus, GA is 48.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Columbus, GA have an average commute time of 20.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbus, GA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Columbus, GA is $50,542. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Columbus, GA was Census Tract 103.01 with a value of $117,125, followed by Census Tract 11 and Census Tract 102.05, with respective values of $92,375 and $68,505.

Housing

Property

$146,000

Median Property Value 2021

±$4,403

$38,080

Median Property Taxes

±$1,562

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Columbus, GA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Columbus, GA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

48.5%

Homeownership

2021

69.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 48.5% of the housing units in Columbus, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 49.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Columbus, GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 103.01
Census Tract 11
Census Tract 102.05

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Columbus, GA was Census Tract 103.01 with a value of $117,125, followed by Census Tract 11 and Census Tract 102.05, with respective values of $92,375 and $68,505.

The following map shows all of the places in Columbus, GA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$50,542

Median Household Income

± $1,957

78.5k

Number of Households

± 2,364

In 2021, the median household income of the 78.5k households in Columbus, GA grew to $50,542 from the previous year's value of $47,418.

The following chart displays the households in Columbus, GA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbus, GA is from Georgia.

0.475

2021 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2021, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.141% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Georgia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Georgia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (79.4%)
Carpooled (8.03%)
Worked At Home (7.19%)

In 2021, 79.4% of workers in Columbus, GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.03%) and those who worked at home (7.19%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbus, GA have a shorter commute time (20.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 2.09% of the workforce in Columbus, GA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Columbus, GA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Columbus, GA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Columbus, GA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbus, GA (38.7k out of 198k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Columbus, GA is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

88% of the population of Columbus, GA has health coverage, with 36% on employee plans, 17.7% on Medicaid, 8.23% on Medicare, 18.1% on non-group plans, and 7.96% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Muscogee County, GA see 932 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.64% decrease from the previous year (938 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1651 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 304 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Muscogee County, GA.

932 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Muscogee County, GA

Primary care physicians in Muscogee County, GA see an average of 932 patients per year. This represents a 0.64% decrease from the previous year (938 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Muscogee County, GA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.4% under 18 years, 22.5% between 18 and 34 years, 36.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.5% were men and 53.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12%

Uninsured

36%

Employer Coverage

17.7%

Medicaid

8.23%

Medicare

18.1%

Non-Group

7.96%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbus, GA grew by 0.558% from 12% to 12%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Columbus, GA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.