The Town FilesColumbus, Mississippi
City in Lowndes County · population 24,084 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,700
- Household income
- $42,235
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 41.1
Columbus is a city of 24,084 people in Lowndes County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $125,700, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 90% of Mississippi towns, better for cycling than 89% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 86% of Mississippi towns.
How Columbus 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 Columbus is worth $125,700, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $42,235, which is more affordable than 45% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $897 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $897 | $820 |
| Median household income | $42,235 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 83.3% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 35.8°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 23, 2019 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 91 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Lowndes County since 1996
Lowndes County has been included in 23 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lowndes County
Lowndes County had 25,486 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,640 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Columbus
17 public schools with 6,404 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,199 | 13.0 |
| COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 937 | 15.9 |
| NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 818 | 15.4 |
| NEW HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 612 | 13.3 |
| COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 580 | 12.3 |
| COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 423 | 14.1 |
| STOKES BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 353 | 13.1 |
| SALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 275 | 14.5 |
| FRANKLIN ACADEMY | PK-5 | 268 | 14.1 |
| WEST LOWNDES ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 253 | 10.5 |
| MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE | 11-12 | 241 | 11.5 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 229 | 15.3 |
Towns near Columbus
- New Hope, MS5.1 mi · 3,161 people · home $238,200
- West Point, MS15.9 mi · 10,105 people · home $153,900
- Mississippi State, MS22.5 mi · 4,968 people · home —
- Aberdeen, MS23.7 mi · 4,961 people · home $87,600
- Starkville, MS24.4 mi · 24,360 people · home $299,900
- Macon, MS28.0 mi · 2,582 people · home $97,400
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 55% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 21%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $125,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,235, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $897 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 35.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 23, 2019. 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)