Columbia Heights, MN

Census place 2712700 · pop 22,155

D−48/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in MN
📍 Minnesota ranks #5 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.9% · top 17%
🚽 Obesity39.7% · bottom 21%
Taxes
1.08% property · US 0.99%8.14% sales · US 7.00%up to 9.85% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity39.7%21

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

39.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Property crime rate2194/100k24

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2194 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Physical inactivity29.7%27

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

29.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking15.8%27

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate16.3%29

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

16.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Violent crime rate326/100k32

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

326 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults11.0%38

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Income inequality0.4539

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Broadband access90.3%40

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

90.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property-tax burden1.08%44

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.08% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level90/10047

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

90/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$73,69149

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$73,691 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Housing cost$277,60051

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$277,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Commute time24 min52

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Bachelor's degree or higher32.5%55

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

32.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership65.9%56

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

65.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health16.7%56

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

16.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Rent$1,615/mo60

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,615/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+10.1%81

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+10.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.9%83

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Columbia Heights, MN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Columbia Heights scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Minnesota overall ranks #5 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Columbia Heights, MN?
Columbia Heights reports 326 violent crimes per 100k and 2194 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Columbia Heights, MN expensive to live in?
Columbia Heights has a median home value of $277,600 and typical rent around $1,615/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Columbia Heights, MN?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (39.7%) — 21/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Columbia Heights, MN best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.9%) — 83/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.