The Town FilesColumbus, Texas
City in Colorado County · population 3,699 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,700
- Household income
- $49,418
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.6
Columbus is a city of 3,699 people in Colorado County, Texas. The median home is worth $241,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks quieter than 95% of Texas towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 88% of Texas towns.
How Columbus ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbus is worth $241,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $49,418, which is more affordable than 6% of Texas towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 68.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $879 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $49,418 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 68.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 96.0°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 132 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F1, struck on January 18, 1991 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 12, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 2003.
Severe weather in Colorado County since 1996
Colorado County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Colorado County
Colorado County had 7,491 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,442 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Columbus
4 public schools with 1,636 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBUS EL | PK-5 | 786 | 14.3 |
| COLUMBUS H S | 9-12 | 520 | 13.7 |
| COLUMBUS J H | 6-8 | 313 | 11.6 |
| COLUMBUS CROSSING H S | 9-12 | 17 | — |
Towns near Columbus
- Eagle Lake, TX15.9 mi · 3,442 people · home $137,900
- Schulenburg, TX21.1 mi · 2,633 people · home $205,900
- La Grange, TX24.0 mi · 4,391 people · home $338,700
- Sealy, TX24.1 mi · 6,839 people · home $261,100
- Bellville, TX24.6 mi · 4,206 people · home $284,400
- Hallettsville, TX29.3 mi · 2,731 people · home $163,000
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 88% of Texas towns and quieter than 95%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $241,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,418, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 96.0°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on January 18, 1991. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)