The Town FilesColumbia, Michigan
Township in Van Buren County · population 2,546 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,500
- Household income
- $63,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 37.7
Columbia is a township of 2,546 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. The median home is worth $164,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $164,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $63,068, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $63,068 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.5% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 41.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 109.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 21,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,293 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Columbia
- Geneva, MI5.5 mi · 3,416 people · home $183,800
- Lee, MI6.0 mi · 3,805 people · home $80,600
- Bloomingdale, MI6.0 mi · 2,930 people · home $135,600
- Waverly, MI8.6 mi · 2,506 people · home $222,400
- Casco, MI9.3 mi · 2,796 people · home $310,200
- South Haven, MI10.5 mi · 4,041 people · home $233,900
- South Haven, MI11.1 mi · 3,964 people · home $454,100
- Trowbridge, MI12.0 mi · 2,530 people · home $235,900
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 4% of Michigan towns and quieter than 41%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $164,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,068, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.1 inches of precipitation a year and 109.0 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1980. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)