Photo of Columbia, MO
( 27 Ratings )

Living in Columbia, MO

Columbia Area Facts

  • Columbia has a Livability Score of 82/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Columbia crime rates are 13% higher than the Missouri average
  • Cost of living in Columbia is 11% higher than the Missouri average
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Columbia Reviews

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion community, no this does not include normal peep User Rating 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 31, 2024) I lived in columbia about a year and a half. The worst city I have ever lived in. It is a DEI community, which only caters to unique subsets of people. Those are the homeless, vets with ptsd, mentally ill, criminally ill, bad behaviors and their ilk, drug addicts, prostitutes, vo ...Read More ucher folks who don't work or won't work, heck, they won't go to school or function in any way as a normal societal American would or should. The Mayor wears a tshirt that says, "i'm your F(*King mayor:. The entire city is run by incompetent dei people in every facet from law enforcment, to city council, to mayor, file dept', public safety, parks and rec. etc. No water parks, no zoo, no botanical center, small mall with crime and the infrastructure of boone county looks like 1940's Americana. The city only caters to college kids, sports, homeless and meth folks. The city cannot give away enough voucher money and they local leadership only cater to these very "unique subsets of individuals", which if you are a normal, working, average jane or joe American, this is NOT you, so move on, and don't waste what short life you have left in this dysfunctional masstopia of junk. Read Less
Only comfortable if you’re rich User Rating 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 17, 2019) I’m from Columbia. I grew up in a neighborhood called South Hampton. It’s located near Rock Bridge High School and despite the south location in Columbia it’s a neighborhood that was and is still ran by slumlords.
My mom is a single mom who worked for the University of Mis
...Read More souri as a Financial aid assistant. My grandma who lived with us also worked for the University in the same office. Naturally you would think the two incomes would have made it so we could have chosen a better neighborhood to live in, but that is not the case. Even with both of them working good jobs we could not afford a better apartment. Today in 2019 the relationship with the household income and finding a good place to live has not gotten any better. My husband and I both work good jobs now and still we can’t not afford a house, or a better apartment. Most Columbia jobs do not pay well. Those that do want 5 or more years of experience, or there’s a false since have payment. By that I mean you may make $15 an hour but only at part time and no working overtime hours. Truly you don’t make enough. The only people who like living here make 80.000 or more a year. Of course only a few make that type of income. Everyone else suffers. I would move away from here but my mom is sick and I have to take care of her. Oh and the University of Missouri mom worked for for 15 or so years did nothing for her when she got sick except fire her. I won’t move here unless you can make some changes to this messed up community. Read Less
Small city growing.. User Rating 2 rating By Mamide3 ( Feb 17, 2014) I've lived in South Columbia my entire life. I was born here. I still am not used to Missouri winters. It gets very cold. There are years it snows and ices a lot. Summer's here are hot and humid, but the town in beautiful. We are home of the Missouri Tigers, and Columbia is a col ...Read More lege town. It's grown a lot over the years. Local schools get a fairly bad rating in my book. I have three children and the student/teacher ratios are horrible (sometimes 28:1). I am actually looking to move our young family at this time. Crime is high in Columbia, over recent years it's skyrocketed. By all means if your moving into the area look in Columbia's south side, north Columbia has more crimes and schools aren't the best. Read Less
Columbia, MO - Big City Offerings With a Small Town Feel User Rating 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 23, 2010) I have lived only a few hours from Columbia, Missouri most of my life, and have the pleasure of traveling there several times a year. Columbia is the home of the University of Missouri and their Big 12 conference Missouri Tigers, as well as Columbia and Stephens Colleges. The col ...Read More lege town feel makes this a wonderful place to visit, for games, shopping and entertainment.

Due to the presence of the colleges, hotels and restaurants are plentiful for a city of just over 100,000 residents and offer a much more cosmopolitan atmosphere than expected. All the conveniences of a city can be found in this small town.

Downtown Columbia is home to many small restaurants and specialty shops, as well as one of the mid-west's premier music venues. Well known for presenting national acts in an intimate setting, several of these clubs regularly host artists doing warm-up performances before embarking on national tours. Restaurants are enhanced by a healthy Indian community who offer authentic foods from their homeland.

Columbia, Missouri host several festivals throughout the year including, The Roots and Blues Bar-B-Que Festival and the Boone County Fair. You'll always find something to do in Columbia. Read Less
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Small city growing.. User Rating 2 rating By Mamide3 ( Feb 17, 2014) I've lived in South Columbia my entire life. I was born here. I still am not used to Missouri winters. It gets very cold. There are years it snows and ices a lot. Summer's here are hot and humid, but the town in beautiful. We are home of the Missouri Tigers, and Columbia is a col ...Read More lege town. It's grown a lot over the years. Local schools get a fairly bad rating in my book. I have three children and the student/teacher ratios are horrible (sometimes 28:1). I am actually looking to move our young family at this time. Crime is high in Columbia, over recent years it's skyrocketed. By all means if your moving into the area look in Columbia's south side, north Columbia has more crimes and schools aren't the best. Read Less
Columbia, MO - Big City Offerings With a Small Town Feel User Rating 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 23, 2010) I have lived only a few hours from Columbia, Missouri most of my life, and have the pleasure of traveling there several times a year. Columbia is the home of the University of Missouri and their Big 12 conference Missouri Tigers, as well as Columbia and Stephens Colleges. The col ...Read More lege town feel makes this a wonderful place to visit, for games, shopping and entertainment.

Due to the presence of the colleges, hotels and restaurants are plentiful for a city of just over 100,000 residents and offer a much more cosmopolitan atmosphere than expected. All the conveniences of a city can be found in this small town.

Downtown Columbia is home to many small restaurants and specialty shops, as well as one of the mid-west's premier music venues. Well known for presenting national acts in an intimate setting, several of these clubs regularly host artists doing warm-up performances before embarking on national tours. Restaurants are enhanced by a healthy Indian community who offer authentic foods from their homeland.

Columbia, Missouri host several festivals throughout the year including, The Roots and Blues Bar-B-Que Festival and the Boone County Fair. You'll always find something to do in Columbia. Read Less

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      Columbia, MO

      Columbia is a college town in the state of Missouri. It is fondly known as CoMo by the crowd of college kids and the locals who reside there. Thanks to its beautiful architecture and beautiful sites, it is also known as the “Athens of Missouri.” Columbia offers the comforts of a small town with all the amenities and culture of a big city. Whether you prefer a quiet life with friendly neighbors or love booming city life, Columbia could be the place for you. With a population of over 100,000, the city is a fairly large metropolis and and an exciting to live. It is known as a liberal city, which is no surprise given that most of its population consits of young, idealistic people.

      Columbia is a college town through and through. It is home to the University of Missouri, which is one of the most reputable universities in the country. The city also boasts of several colleges, most popular among them being the Columbia College and Stephens College. Additionally, there are a good number of public schools that are high ranking on the national scale, which makes it a great city for families with younger kids.

      Columbia has some tremendous amenities for its size. In terms of healthcare, Missouri University Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country. Locals enjoy quality healthcare from this facility. The city also has numerous recreational parks and other facilities, most notable among them being the Rock Bridge State Park and the Albert- Oakland Family Aquatic Center. If you prefer to go biking or hiking, the city has numerous trails on which you can create memorable experiences.

      Life in Columbia is more affordable than in most other towns in the United States. Additionally, CoMo boasts a fairly robust economy, with an unemployment rate that is lower than it is in the rest of the country. Houses here also tend to be cheaper than in most other US cities, although most locals rent out rather than buy their homes. The city also has a reliable transport system, and the average commute time is lower than the national average.

      If you are looking for entertainment options, Columbia is beaming with them. After all, what college town does not have endless recreational possibilities? There are various festivals throughout the year, numerous concerts for music lovers, and theatres for art lovers. Whether you like Jazz, blues, or popular music, rest assured you will find your crowd in CoMo. If you prefer classical music or appreciate fine art, then the Missouri Theater will most certainly become a haven for you.

      On the whole, Columbia is a great place to move to for people of all ages. Whether you are a college kid, a young family, or someone who wants a new start, Columbia will prove to be just the city for you. It has all the amenities you need and a sense of community that will bring more joy to your life.

      A+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Columbia? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Francis Quadrangle
      Peace Park
      Paquin Park
      Kuhlman Court
      Mel Carnahan Quadrangle
      Flat Branch Park
      Flat Branch Park
      Lions-Stephens Park

      Entertainment

      Missouri Theatre
      Jesse Auditorium
      Ragtag Cinema
      My House
      Eastside
      Nash Vegas
      Roxy's
      The Blue Note

      Food & Drink

      International Tap House
      Thaï Express
      Bonsai Sushi
      Subway
      Domino's
      Moe's Southwest Grill
      Chipotle
      Pickleman's

      F Commute

      Is public transit available in Columbia? Of all people who commute, 1.1% take public transportation in Columbia.
      Drive to Work
      76%

      1% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      1%

      4% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      6%

      3% higher than the US average

      B- Health & Safety

      Is Columbia a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Boone Hospital Center
      Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital
      University Hospital
      Women's and Children's Hospital

      Pharmacies

      Walgreens
      D&H Drugstore

      Doctors

      Providence Urgent Care