Columbia 63 Average
Columbia Livability #181 ranked city in Tennessee#14,542 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbia

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

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What's it like Living in Columbia?

Located in the state of Tennessee, Columbia is a mid-sized city with a population of 39,515 inhabitants. The majority of Columbia residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Columbia, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 28 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Columbia, Tennessee. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Columbia and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, cost of living, commute, education and other important metrics.

Columbia, TN receives 62/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #202 in Tennessee and #14,738 in the USA. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Columbia ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) Regrettably for Columbia, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F) and education (F).

The Columbia unemployment rate of 2.36% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Columbia has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Columbia meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Columbia. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Columbia are simply unattainable. The median home price for Columbia homes is $169,200, which is 15.9% higher than the Tennessee average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Columbia, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 9.7% higher than the Tennessee average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Columbia

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Columbia?

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Compare Columbia, TN Livability

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      Columbia transportation information

      Statistic Columbia Tennessee National
      Average one way commute28min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work83.8%83.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.5%9.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.1%0.8%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.7%1.4%2.8%
      Working from home6.2%3.9%4.6%
      Source: The Columbia, TN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).