2010 · ANP train with US at Camp Hero and JRAC 110608-F-AU128-076 · Wikimedia Commons
Columbia’s story
Columbia in pictures
7 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 10 places on the National Register.
ColumbiaMS
A town of 6,632. Public schools that outperform most of Mississippi.
Photo: Calvin Beale · Public domain
Population
6,632
−10.9% since 2010
Typical home
$139K
+4.1% in a year
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
41.4
years
Jobs based here
6,058
A job hub
What makes Columbia stand out
The 3 things Columbia does most differently from other towns.
A job hub
Every workday, about 5,295 people come to Columbia for work
Where Columbia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
6,058jobs based in Columbia
37%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Columbia’s report card
Now in Columbia
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Columbia? Is a D− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Columbia’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →73°
Light Rain
H 94° · L 70°
Local news
All →- Basketball Live and Upcoming Games - Columbia Academy - Columbia, MSNFHS Network · Sep 28
- Varsity Boys Basketball Woodlawn Prep - 01/29/2027 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
- South Pike vs Away - Girls Varsity Basketball 02/02/2027 | 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.
Schools
Columbia’s public schools outperform 79% of Mississippi districts
The public schools Columbia’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 79% of Mississippi’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Primary School | PK–2 | 448 | Not graded |
| Columbia Elementary School | 3–5 | 378 | A− |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6–8 | 329 | B− |
| Columbia High School | 9–12 | 484 | B |
| Woodlawn Preparatory School Private | PK–12 | 115 |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduationAll 5 schools →
Work & commute
About one in three working residents works right in Columbia
About one in 3 of Columbia’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Hattiesburg (6%), Jackson (3%) and McComb (3%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
37%work in town
Where working residents work
In Columbia37%
Hattiesburg6%
Jackson3%
McComb3%
Brookhaven2%
22 mi
median commute distance
6,058
jobs based in Columbia
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Columbia beats the Mississippi average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
D−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Mississippi
0 better15 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Columbia | MS |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 28.1% | 18.5% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 16.5% | 11.2% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 32.6% | 22.4% |
Marion General Hospital
0.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
15th
percentile among MS towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0.7% of Columbia is conserved land
0.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
0.7%conserved
0.7%
conserved · 52 of 7,181 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
#36
most walkable in MS
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Friendship Park | 0.5 mi | 7 |
| 2. Duckworth Park | — | 7 |
| 3. Marion County Farmers Market | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
A typical Columbia home is worth about $139K
The typical Columbia home is worth about $139,000, up 4.1% in a year, 30% below the Mississippi typical home.
$139KZillow home value
Typical home value
Columbia$139K
Mississippi$198K
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
High risk, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingTornadoes
298
paid flood claims since 1979
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Columbia has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–63°
Spring54–78°
Summer70–92°
Fall55–79°
Nov 19
typical first frost
Mar 5
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Columbia
Columbia's reported crime rate is well above Mississippi's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 12 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Columbia1.9
Mississippi2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Columbia27.6
Mississippi13.1
U.S.15.5
12
violent crimes reported in 2025
179
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
A shrinking town
Columbia has shrunk 10.9% since 2010
6,582 people in 2010; 6,632 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Landmarks
10 places in Columbia on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Columbia
City in Mississippi, United States
Columbia is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Mississippi, United States. Formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood, Columbia was named for Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 5,864 as of the 2020 census, down from 6,582 in 2010.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 5,864
- Area
- 6.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 148 ft
- ZIP code
- 39429
- Area code
- 601
More about Columbia
Still missing for Columbia:upcoming events