The Town FilesColumbia Heights, Minnesota
City in Anoka County · population 21,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,600
- Household income
- $73,691
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 36.8
Columbia Heights is a city of 21,973 people in Anoka County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $277,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 99% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 99% of Minnesota towns.
How Columbia Heights ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia Heights is worth $277,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $73,691, which is more affordable than 30% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,295 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia Heights | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,295 | $991 |
| Median household income | $73,691 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Columbia Heights
| People | Columbia Heights | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Columbia Heights
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia Heights since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 454 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 327 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 11, 1963.
Severe weather in Anoka County since 1996
Anoka County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1990: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Anoka County
Anoka County had 133,130 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,235 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Columbia Heights itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Columbia Heights
13 public schools with 3,905 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,094 | 18.9 |
| COLUMBIA ACADEMY | 6-8 | 715 | 19.9 |
| VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 583 | 17.7 |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 512 | 16.0 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle (charter) | 5-8 | 275 | 10.6 |
| Bultum Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 232 | 14.5 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary (charter) | 2-4 | 204 | 8.5 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary (charter) | PK-1 | 199 | 9.0 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD | PK-PK | 62 | 8.9 |
| Columbia Heights Transition Program | 9-12 | 13 | — |
| Anchor | 9-12 | 12 | — |
| Columbia Academy Anchor Program | 6-8 | 4 | 4.0 |
Towns near Columbia Heights
- St. Anthony, MN2.0 mi · 9,257 people · home $387,500
- New Brighton, MN2.4 mi · 23,454 people · home $364,700
- Fridley, MN2.5 mi · 29,590 people · home $302,900
- Brooklyn Center, MN3.7 mi · 33,782 people · home $274,300
- Arden Hills, MN4.2 mi · 9,939 people · home $441,900
- Mounds View, MN4.4 mi · 13,249 people · home $324,200
- Robbinsdale, MN4.4 mi · 14,646 people · home $295,600
- Spring Lake Park, MN4.6 mi · 7,188 people · home $290,100
Columbia Heights questions
Is Columbia Heights, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia Heights scores better for retirees than 5% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 0%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Columbia Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia Heights is valued at $277,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,691, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,295 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia Heights?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbia Heights get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)