Columbia, TN: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Columbia is a city in and the county seat of Maury County, Tennessee. The population was 48,885 as of the City of Columbia's 2024 Special Census conducted by the US Census Bureau. Columbia is included in the Nashville metropolitan area. The self-proclaimed "mule capital of the world," Columbia celebrates the city-designated Mule Day each April. Columbia and Maury County are acknowledged as the "Antebellum Homes Capital of Tennessee"; the county has more antebellum houses than any other county in the state. The city is home to one of the last two surviving residences of James Knox Polk, the 11th President of the United States; the other is the White House.

Official town website ↗

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

How Columbia ranks

All →

#11Most new homes in TN #34Most walkable in TN #34Fastest growing in TN All TN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code38401, 38402

Area code931

Living in Columbia

Housing in Columbia

$372K▲ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Columbia home is worth about $372,000, up 1.1% in a year, 11% above the Tennessee typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market78

Sale-to-list97.5%

Sold in May91

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 84% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Columbia 3.7

Tennessee 5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Columbia 14.8

Tennessee 16.6

U.S. 15.5

Natural hazards: ModerateMostly inland flooding · higher than 44% of U.S. communitiesDetails →

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

Health in Columbia

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 25% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Tennessee

≈Just like Tennessee

No difference on any of 26 measures is outside the margin of error.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Nothing stands out: Columbia tracks Tennessee closely.

Care nearby

Maury Regional HospitalColumbia · 1.7 mi · ER

PrimecareColumbia · 1.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Schools in Columbia

All Columbia schools →

D

School Grade D

The public schools Columbia’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 88% of Tennessee’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Columbia’s schools compare in TN →

DistrictMaury CountySchools15

R Howell Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 587 students J E Woodard Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–4 · 581 students Riverside Elementary C-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 380 students J. Brown Elementary C-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 336 students Highland Park Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 308 students J. R. Baker Elementary B+Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 283 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 TN. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from ColumbiaWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Columbia.Meet them →