The Town FilesColumbus, Nebraska
City in Platte County · population 24,028 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,600
- Household income
- $64,626
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 37.4
Columbus is a city of 24,028 people in Platte County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $213,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 92% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 76% of Nebraska towns.
How Columbus ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbus is worth $213,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $64,626, which is more affordable than 8% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $892 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $892 | $818 |
| Median household income | $64,626 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 28.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 102 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 19, 2025.
Severe weather in Platte County since 1996
Platte County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Platte County
Platte County had 20,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,317 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Columbus
14 public schools with 4,953 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,295 | 17.0 |
| COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 1,207 | 16.3 |
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 347 | 12.9 |
| SHELL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 346 | 13.8 |
| LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 326 | 13.0 |
| LOST CREEK ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-4 | 313 | 12.5 |
| NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 299 | 15.0 |
| EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 275 | 21.2 |
| WEST PARK ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 231 | 17.8 |
| KRAMER EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 178 | 29.7 |
| LAKEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 136 | 22.7 |
| ESU 7 CENTER | 8-11 | — | — |
Towns near Columbus
- Schuyler, NE15.4 mi · 6,547 people · home $145,700
- David City, NE17.5 mi · 2,995 people · home $165,200
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 8% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 11%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $213,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,626, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $892 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.7 inches of precipitation a year and 25.6 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1964. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)