2012 · Columbia, Alabama · Wikimedia Commons
Columbia’s story
Columbia in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.
ColumbiaAL
A town of 785. A typical home worth about $166K.
Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
785
−6.8% since 2010
Typical home
$166K
+0.9% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
32.1
years
Jobs based here
120
A commuter town
What makes Columbia stand out
The 2 things Columbia does most differently from other towns.
Small town
785 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Columbia’s report card
Now in Columbia
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Columbia? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Columbia’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →88°
Clear
H 89° · L 62°
Local news
All →- Ke'marion ClemonsSports Illustrated · Oct 2
- Houston County vs Daleville - Boys Varsity Football 09/25/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 25
- Houston County vs G.W. Long - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/22/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 22
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Columbia. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Columbia
Most working residents leave Columbia for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Dothan (41%), Ashford (4%) and Blakely (3%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
6%work in town
Where working residents work
In Columbia6%
Dothan41%
Ashford4%
Blakely3%
Webb2%
18 mi
median commute distance
120
jobs based in Columbia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Columbia home is worth about $166K
The typical Columbia home is worth about $166,000, up 0.9% in a year, 31% below the Alabama typical home.
$166KZillow home value
Typical home value
Columbia$166K
Alabama$242K
+0.9%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
23
paid flood claims since 1990
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Columbia’s public schools outperform 69% of Alabama districts
The public schools Columbia’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 69% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County High School | 7–12 | 322 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Columbia has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–63°
Spring54–79°
Summer71–91°
Fall56–79°
Nov 24
typical first frost
Mar 5
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Columbia
8 crimes were reported in Columbia in 2025: 7 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Columbia is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
7
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Columbia is
Columbia beats the Alabama average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
32 measures vs. Alabama
4 better26 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Columbia | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 16% | 19.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 8.2% |
Lifebrite Community Hospital of Early
11.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0.7% of Columbia is conserved land
1.3 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
0.7%conserved
0.7%
conserved · 19 of 2,548 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Columbia for work
Where Columbia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
120jobs based in Columbia
6%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Columbia on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Columbia
Town in Alabama, United States
Columbia is a rural town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Columbia had a population of 690.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 690
- Area
- 4.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 223 ft
- ZIP code
- 36319
- Area code
- 334
More about Columbia
Still missing for Columbia:upcoming events