Tyrrell County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Columbia’s story
233 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1793Columbia is settled
ColumbiaNC
A town of 759, settled in 1793. A regional job hub with 342 jobs.
Population
759
−31.5% since 2010
Typical home
$166K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$26K
median
Median age
38.7
years
Jobs based here
342
A job hub
What makes Columbia stand out
The 3 things Columbia does most differently from other towns.
Small town
759 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 D for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Columbia’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →65°
Mostly Cloudy
H 78° · L 63°
Local news
All →Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Columbia. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in nine working residents works right in Columbia
Most working residents leave Columbia for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Nags Head (6%), Manteo (5%) and Wanchese (4%). Half commute less than 32 miles.
11%work in town
Where working residents work
In Columbia11%
Nags Head6%
Manteo5%
Wanchese4%
Greenville3%
32 mi
median commute distance
342
jobs based in Columbia
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities.
99risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCoastal flooding
173
paid flood claims since 1985
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Columbia home is worth about $166K
The typical Columbia home is worth about $166,000, up 1.1% in a year, 51% below the North Carolina typical home.
$166KZillow home value
Typical home value
Columbia$166K
North Carolina$335K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Schools
Columbia’s public schools outperform 13% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Columbia’s kids attend trail 87% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
DSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Middle | 6–8 | 90 | D |
| Columbia High | 9–13 | 176 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state testsAll 2 schools →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Columbia has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 33°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–55°
Spring49–70°
Summer69–87°
Fall54–73°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Columbia is
Columbia beats the North Carolina average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
32 measures vs. North Carolina
2 better13 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Columbia | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.7% | 14.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.8% | 76.7% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 25.6% | 15.2% |
Vidant Chowan Hospital
23 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
7.9% of Columbia is conserved land
3.0 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
7.9%conserved
7.9%
conserved · 63 of 804 acres
3.0 mi
of trails · 2.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge | 0.3 mi | 57 |
| 2. Kitty Hawk Woods | — | 9 |
| 3. Tyrrell County Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A job hub
Every workday, about 319 people come to Columbia for work
Where Columbia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
342jobs based in Columbia
11%of working residents work in town
32 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
3 places in Columbia on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Columbia
Town in North Carolina, United States
Columbia is a town in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 610 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Tyrrell County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1793
- Population
- 610
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3 ft
- ZIP code
- 27925
- Area code
- 252