The Town FilesColumbia, Mississippi
City in Marion County · population 5,864 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,700
- Household income
- $38,507
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 41.4
Columbia is a city of 5,864 people in Marion County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $131,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 82% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 78% of Mississippi towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $131,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $38,507, which is more affordable than 21% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $806 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $806 | $820 |
| Median household income | $38,507 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 37.6°F. About 61.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 23, 2014 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 7, 2003.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 8,318 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,025 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Columbia
8 public schools with 2,334 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 471 | 15.2 |
| COLUMBIA PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 433 | 13.1 |
| COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 369 | 13.7 |
| EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 359 | 11.6 |
| JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 357 | 13.7 |
| EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 345 | 13.3 |
| MARION CO VOC COMPLEX | 9-12 | — | — |
| MARION CO ALT SCHOOL | 15-15 | — | — |
Towns near Columbia
- West Hattiesburg, MS26.3 mi · 6,006 people · home $213,700
- Hattiesburg, MS29.8 mi · 48,730 people · home $165,900
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 72% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 35%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $131,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,507, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $806 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 37.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 23, 2014. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)