Columbia, TN

Census place 4716540 · pop 45,441

D52/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in TN
📍 Tennessee ranks #32 of 50 states →
🏆 Growth+18.4% · top 8%
🚽 Mental20.2% · bottom 9%
💡 Did you know?

The self-proclaimed 'Mule Capital of the World' and home of the only surviving private residence of President James K. Polk.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.50% property · US 0.99%9.61% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health20.2%9

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

20.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking18.0%13

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

18.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Commute time28 min25

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

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

Uninsured adults13.0%26

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

13.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Median household income$63,71934

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

$63,719 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Physical inactivity27.5%36

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

27.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate14.2%37

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

14.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult obesity36.9%38

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

36.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher25.4%38

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

25.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Housing cost$308,70045

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

$308,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Broadband access91.1%46

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

91.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership63.3%49

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

63.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Income inequality0.4356

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$1,583/mo63

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

$1,583/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level79/10064

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

79/100 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.

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.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

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

0 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.

Property-tax burden0.50%90

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

0.50% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Air quality (AQI)County-level33 AQI91

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

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

Population growth (5yr)+18.4%92

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

+18.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Not measured for Columbia: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Columbia, TN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Columbia scores 52/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is poor mental health. Tennessee overall ranks #32 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Columbia, TN expensive to live in?
Columbia has a median home value of $308,700 and typical rent around $1,583/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Columbia, TN?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (20.2%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Columbia, TN best at?
Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+18.4%) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The self-proclaimed 'Mule Capital of the World' and home of the only surviving private residence of President James K. Polk.

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