Columbia, TN
Census place 4716540 · pop 45,441
The self-proclaimed 'Mule Capital of the World' and home of the only surviving private residence of President James K. Polk.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$63,719 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
14.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
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.
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.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
63.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
