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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Columbia, MO

Considering a move to Columbia, MO? Home to about 128,555 residents, Columbia offers an affordable lifestyle with a median home price of $255,000 and average rent around $1,120. Commute times are short (just 17 minutes on average), and the city shines with top-tier education options including the University of Missouri and a high rate of college graduates. While crime rates are higher than average, residents enjoy over 57% sunny days, a lively college-town vibe, and excellent healthcare access, making Columbia a vibrant and budget-friendly choice.

Demographics - Columbia, MO

Demographics - Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO is a dynamic city of approximately 128,555 residents, with a youthful median age of 28.6 years and a balanced gender ratio. The population is predominantly White, but the city also features a notable Black and Asian community, and nearly 9% of residents speak a language other than English at home. Its moderate population density and diversity contribute to a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

demograph population
Population:
128,555
demograph density
Density:
2,100 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
28.6
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
98 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
8.7%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
73.3%
demograph blacks
Black:
10.9%
demograph asian
Asian:
6.4%
demograph others
Others:
9.4%
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Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Columbia, MO?

Columbia offers an affordable cost of living, with a median home value of $255,000 and average rent around $1,120 per month. The overall cost of living index is well below the national average, making the city especially attractive for homebuyers and renters alike. Utility and everyday expenses remain manageable, supporting a comfortable lifestyle for residents.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$255,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$1,120
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$130
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,390
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$1,610
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$560
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
1.5%
|
High:
5.4%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
87.5
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
92.0
cost of living housing
Housing:
72.4
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
97.6
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
91.0
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
98.2
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
95.5

Crime

Crime

Is Columbia, MO a safe place to live?

While Columbia boasts a vibrant community, its crime rates are higher than the national average, with a resident's chance of experiencing property crime at about 1 in 34. Violent crime occurs at a rate of 496 incidents per 100,000 people, though most neighborhoods remain safe and proactive policing helps maintain public safety. Residents are encouraged to stay aware and take standard precautions.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
496
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
2,962
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
3,458
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 202
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 34
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Columbia, MO year-round?

Columbia experiences all four seasons, featuring cold winters with lows around 21°F, warm summers peaking near 88°F, and mild spring and fall temperatures. The city enjoys about 57% sunny days annually and receives an average of 42.5 inches of rainfall, offering a balanced climate ideal for outdoor activities. Seasonal changes bring a variety of recreational opportunities throughout the year.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
21°F
weather max
Max:
40°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
46°F
weather max
Max:
70°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
65°F
weather max
Max:
88°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
48°F
weather max
Max:
70°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
42.5 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
57%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Residents of Columbia enjoy a strong sense of community, with a median household income of $57,800 and a low unemployment rate of 2.7%. The city is highly educated, as over half of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and commute times average just 17 minutes. While the poverty rate stands at 19.4%, the city remains inclusive and culturally diverse, with nearly 9% non-English speakers.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$34,000
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$57,800
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$82,400
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$32,800
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$43,900
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$36,700
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
19.4%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
8.7%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$1,120
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
2.7%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
2.8%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
17.2 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
95.4%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
54.3%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Columbia, MO?

Education in Columbia is a standout, with highly rated public and private schools and a strong emphasis on academic achievement. The city is home to the University of Missouri-Columbia, along with several other colleges, making it a hub for higher education and lifelong learning. Families benefit from quality K-12 options, competitive student-teacher ratios, and a vibrant academic community.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Rock Bridge High School
education publicStreet
Street:
4303 S Providence Rd
education publicPhone
Phone:
573-214-3100
education publicStudents
Students:
2,000
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
18.5


education publicName
Name:
Gentry Middle School
education publicStreet
Street:
4200 Bethel St
education publicPhone
Phone:
573-214-3240
education publicStudents
Students:
900
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
15.9


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
Christian Fellowship School
education privateStreet
Street:
4600 Christian Fellowship Road
education privatePhone
Phone:
573-445-8565
education privateStudents
Students:
330


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
University of Missouri-Columbia
education collegeCity
City:
Columbia
education collegeState
State:
MO
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
31,000


education collegeName
Name:
Columbia College
education collegeCity
City:
Columbia
education collegeState
State:
MO
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
6,000


Healthcare

Healthcare

Columbia is well-served by major medical centers, including University of Missouri Health Care and Boone Hospital Center, ensuring residents have access to comprehensive care and emergency services. With 3.1 physicians per 1,000 people and a health insurance coverage rate of over 90%, healthcare access is strong in the city. The healthcare index reflects overall quality and availability for families and individuals alike.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
University of Missouri Health Care – University Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65212
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(573) 882-4141
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Boone Hospital Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
1600 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(573) 815-8000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
3.1
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
90.7%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
78.9
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Columbia, MO?

The housing market in Columbia is accessible, with a median home price of $255,000 and strong rental options averaging $1,120 for a two-bedroom. About 47% of residents own their homes, while the city maintains a healthy rental vacancy rate, making it easy to find both rental and purchase opportunities. Home values have appreciated nearly 5% in the past year, signaling a stable and growing market.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$255,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$1,120
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
46.9%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
8.0%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
4.7%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
2.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.5%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Columbia residents can handle vehicle and driver services through the Missouri Department of Revenue, located in nearby Jefferson City. The department offers convenient online resources and assistance via phone to support licensing, registration, and other DMV needs. Access to these services helps streamline relocation and daily life for newcomers.

dmv state
State:
Missouri
dmv department
Department:
Missouri Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle & Driver Licensing Division
dmv address
Address:
301 West High Street, Room 370, Jefferson City, MO 65101
dmv phone
Phone:
573-526-3669
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Columbia, MO

Planning a relocation in or near Columbia? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Columbia.

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FAQs About Moving to Columbia, MO

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Columbia. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Columbia climate and weather.

Moving within Columbia usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Columbia. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Columbia offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Columbia at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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