Columbus, IN Local Data & Statistics

State: IN

Total population: 51,824 Household income: $77,456 Rent: $1,157

Overview

Total population

51,824

Rent

$1,157

Year built

1982

Household income

$77,456

Per capita income

$43,783

Poverty rate

11.3%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

39.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Indiana

Total population

51,824

Adults over 25

35,351

Total households

21,726

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$77,456

Per capita income

$43,783

Poverty rate

11.3%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

39.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,157

Year built

1982

Households that rent

39.2%

Households that own

60.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

73.9%

Black

2.5%

Asian

11.5%

Two or more races

6.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.4%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

15.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

22.2%

High school graduate or GED

29.5%

Some college or associate degree

8.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

40%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Columbus, IN with: Indiana United States

Columbus, IN

Total population51,824

Rent$1,157

Year built1982

Household income$77,456

Per capita income$43,783

Poverty rate11.3%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Indiana State

Total population6,851,073

Rent$1,062

Year built1976

Household income$71,957

Per capita income$38,351

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityColumbus, IN	StateIndiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,824	6,851,073	334,922,499
Rent	$1,157	$1,062	$1,413
Year built	1982	1976	1980
Household income	$77,456	$71,957	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,783	$38,351	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.3%	12.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Columbus, IN, Indiana and United States →

Summary for Columbus, IN

Columbus is located in Indiana.

Rent & Income

In Columbus, the typical monthly rent is $1,157 and the typical household income is $77,456. Rent here is higher than Indiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than Indiana and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11.3%, which is lower than in both Indiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.2% of households. Around 39.6% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 40% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is lower than Indiana and similar to the national rate.

Columbus, IN — Rent vs Household Income

Columbus, IN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Columbus, IN compares in Indiana (21 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,157	15 / 21	from lower rent	$904 – $1,712
Household income	$77,456	6 / 21	from higher income	$38,731 – $141,505
Poverty rate	11.3%	7 / 21	from lower poverty	3.6% – 33.1%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	8 / 21	from lower unemployment	3% – 9.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Indiana with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Columbus, IN

Rent

Columbus ranks 15th out of 21 large places in Indiana for rent. Statewide rents range from $904 in Muncie, IN to $1,712 in Carmel, IN.

Household income

In terms of household income, Columbus comes in 6th among 21 major places. Across Indiana, income levels vary from $38,731 in Gary, IN to $141,505 in Carmel, IN.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Columbus ranks 7th out of 21 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Westfield, IN to 33.1% in Gary, IN.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Columbus is ranked 8th out of 21 major areas. Across Indiana, rates go from 3% in Fishers, IN up to 9.2% in Gary, IN.

💰 Rent in Columbus, IN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,157 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Columbus, IN

Annual Household Income: $77,456

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Columbus, IN

Estimated Rate: 11.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Columbus, IN

In Columbus, IN, households that rent: 8,515 (39.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	8,515	39.2%
Owner-Occupied	13,211	60.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Columbus, IN

In Columbus, IN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,373 (39.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,373	39.6%
Other renter households	5,142	60.4%
Total renter households	8,515	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Columbus, IN

Less than High School: 7,847 people (22.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,440 people (29.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,917 people (8.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,147 people (40%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 35,351

📊 Unemployment Rate in Columbus, IN

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

La Crosse, WI51,791 Florissant, MO51,915 West New York, NJ51,683 Watsonville, CA51,968 Lincoln, CA51,629 Cathedral City, CA52,047 Dunwoody, GA51,563 Palm Desert, CA51,551 Harrisonburg, VA51,492 Mooresville, NC51,447

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.