The Pierce Pennant Motor Hotel, also known as the Candle Light Lodge, is a historic hotel complex that is located on what once was U.S. Route 40, which is now known as Business Loop 70 West in Columbia, Missouri.

Visit this place →📍 Directions

42 on the National Register · 1 National Historic Landmark · #7 in MOHistoric places →

Know Columbia

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

Open the full guide →

About Columbia

City in Missouri, U.S.

1821Established

126,254Population

63.4 sq miArea

758 ftElevation

Columbia is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States, and its county seat. It was founded in 1821 and had a population of 126,254 as recorded in the 2020 United States census, making it the fourth-most-populous city in Missouri. Columbia is a Midwestern college town, home to the University of Missouri, a major research institution also known as MU or Mizzou. In addition to the university and surrounding downtown Columbia are Stephens College and Columbia College, giving the city its educational focus and nearly 40,000 college students. It is the principal city of the Columbia metropolitan area, population 215,811, and the central city of the nine-county Columbia–Jefferson City–Moberl…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Columbia ranks

All →

#3Closest to a top hospital in MO #25Most educated in MO #15Most trails in MO All MO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code65201, 65202, 65203

Area code573

Living in Columbia

Housing in Columbia

$325K▲ 2.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Columbia home is worth about $325,000, up 2.7% in a year, 21% above the Missouri typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market13

Sale-to-list99.4%

Sold in May169

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Columbia

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Columbia reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 80% report less. Compared with places its own size, it does better than 51%.

Violent crime per 1,000

Columbia 3.6

Missouri 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Columbia 18.7

Missouri 16.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Columbia

Full picture →

69% of Columbia’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Jefferson City (5%), Kansas City (2%) and Springfield (1%). Half commute less than 4 miles.

Jefferson City

Kansas City

Springfield

Fulton

69%Work in townlive and work in Columbia 4 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 88,533Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Columbia →

Health in Columbia

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 70% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 90% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Missouri

14better than MO·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▲ 2 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 1▼ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.5%Fewer adults with heart diseaseMO 6.8% · better 2.5%Fewer adults who have had a strokeMO 3.6% · better 10.9%More adults without reliable transportationMO 8.4% · worse

Care nearby

University of Missouri Health Carein Columbia · ER

Compass HealthColumbia · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

3 hospitals · 2 health centers in Columbia →

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Columbia · CMS · HRSAHealth in Columbia →

Natural hazards in Columbia

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌡️ Heat waves

72Does Columbia flood?paid flood claims since 1979 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Columbia

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Columbia →

Climate in Columbia

Full climate →

Columbia has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 17 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

42° / 24°Winter

66° / 44°Spring

86° / 66°Summer

67° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Columbia get?About 17 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 31, with the last in spring around Apr 5.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Columbia →

Schools in Columbia

All Columbia schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Columbia’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 58% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Columbia’s schools compare in MO →

DistrictCOLUMBIA 93Schools52

Beulah Ralph Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 656 students Mary Paxton Keeley Elem. B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 619 students Mill Creek Elem. AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 583 students Rock Bridge Elem. B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 556 students Shepard BLVD. Elem. C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 538 students Russell BLVD. Elem. B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 500 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.

Columbia is a college town

Colleges →

22%

of Columbia’s residents are enrolled in college. University of Missouri-Columbia has about 27,030 students on campus, and 2 more colleges are in town.

78%How hard to get in?admission rate $20,268What does it cost?net price a year 75%Do students finish?graduation rate

College Scorecard · IPEDSColleges in Columbia →