Columbus, NE
Census place 3110110 · pop 24,488
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
42.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
21.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.40% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
28.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,626 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
11.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
66.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
992 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+5.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,524/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$213,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
75/100 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 152/100k · better than most cities
94 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
13.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
15 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Columbus: Air, Bad air. 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 Columbus, NE a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Columbus scores 59/100 — 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 unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Nebraska overall ranks #12 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Columbus, NE?
- Columbus reports 94 violent crimes per 100k and 992 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Columbus, NE expensive to live in?
- Columbus has a median home value of $213,600 and typical rent around $1,524/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Columbus, NE?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (42.5%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Columbus, NE best at?
- Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, 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.