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.
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.
Located in the state of Tennessee, Columbia is a moderately-sized city with a population of 40,814 residents. According to the most recent Census, 75% of Columbia residents are White, 17% Black and 0% Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Columbia, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 28 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Columbia could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Tennessee if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like cost of living, health & safety, education, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Columbia and in the areas around Columbia is a much easier task.
Columbia, TN receives 63 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #181 in Tennessee and #14,542 in the USA. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Columbia scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) The bad news for Columbia, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F) and education (F).
The unemployment rate in Columbia has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.5%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Columbia can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
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. Median real estate prices in Columbia come in at $306,841, which is 17.1% higher than the Tennessee average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Columbia, the home price to income ratio is 4.1, which is 10.8% higher than the Tennessee average.
| Statistic | Columbia | Tennessee | National |
| Average one way commute | 28min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.8% | 83.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.1% | 0.8% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.7% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.2% | 3.9% | 4.6% |
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