The Town FilesColumbia, Tennessee
City in Maury County · population 41,690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $308,700
- Household income
- $63,719
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.5
Columbia is a city of 41,690 people in Maury County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $308,700, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 86% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Tennessee towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $308,700, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $63,719, which is more affordable than 15% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,197 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $308,700 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,197 | $863 |
| Median household income | $63,719 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 56.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 8, 2024 about 2.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 3, 2025.
Severe weather in Maury County since 1996
Maury County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 8, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4691: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Maury County
Maury County had 42,247 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,782 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Columbia
12 public schools with 6,936 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Central High School | 9-12 | 1,409 | 17.2 |
| Spring Hill High School | 9-12 | 1,243 | 18.0 |
| Whitthorne Middle School | 5-8 | 955 | 16.2 |
| E. A. Cox Middle School | 5-8 | 652 | 14.5 |
| R Howell Elementary | PK-4 | 594 | 12.4 |
| J E Woodard Elementary | PK-4 | 547 | 14.8 |
| Riverside Elementary | PK-4 | 405 | 11.3 |
| J. Brown Elementary | PK-4 | 355 | 12.7 |
| J. R. Baker Elementary | PK-4 | 323 | 11.5 |
| Highland Park Elementary | PK-4 | 287 | 10.3 |
| Northfield Academy | 9-12 | 106 | 35.3 |
| Virtual Academy of Maury County | 7-12 | 60 | 15.0 |
Towns near Columbia
- Mount Pleasant, TN9.6 mi · 4,784 people · home $244,400
- Spring Hill, TN11.0 mi · 50,005 people · home $493,800
- Thompson's Station, TN14.9 mi · 7,485 people · home $700,500
- Lewisburg, TN18.6 mi · 12,288 people · home $225,700
- Franklin, TN22.7 mi · 83,454 people · home $705,400
- Fairview, TN25.1 mi · 9,357 people · home $390,200
- Centerville, TN26.1 mi · 3,532 people · home $213,400
- Hohenwald, TN29.1 mi · 3,668 people · home $125,600
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 27% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 23%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $308,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,719, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,197 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 8, 2024. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)