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Moving to Columbus, NC?

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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Columbus, NC

Considering a move to Columbus, NC? With a cozy population of 1,090 and a median home price around $275,000, Columbus offers affordable small-town living with a cost of living well below the national average. The town enjoys low violent crime rates, short commute times under 20 minutes, and a mild climate with 62% sunny days each year. Families benefit from solid local schools, access to St. Luke’s Hospital, and a friendly community atmosphere—making Columbus a great choice for a relaxed lifestyle in the beautiful North Carolina foothills.

Demographics - Columbus, NC

Demographics - Columbus, NC

Columbus, NC is a small, close-knit community of 1,090 residents, with a median age of 51.7, reflecting a mature population. The town is predominantly White, with a modest mix of other ethnic groups and about 5% non-English speakers. Its balanced gender ratio and lower population density create a peaceful, neighborly environment ideal for those seeking a quieter pace of life.

demograph population
Population:
1,090
demograph density
Density:
540 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
51.7
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
87 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
5.2%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
86.4%
demograph blacks
Black:
8.4%
demograph asian
Asian:
1.1%
demograph others
Others:
4.1%
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Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Columbus, NC?

Columbus boasts a cost of living index of 89.5, making it more affordable than the national average. Median home values are around $275,000 and average rent is $920, offering budget-friendly housing options for both buyers and renters. Everyday expenses like utilities and groceries are also reasonably priced, making the town attractive for those seeking to maximize their purchasing power.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$275,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$920
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$120
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,120
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$1,290
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$480
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
5.25%
|
High:
5.25%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
89.5
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
95.3
cost of living housing
Housing:
78.2
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
98.6
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
92.1
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
94.7
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
91.3

Crime

Crime

Is Columbus, NC a safe place to live?

Columbus experiences low violent crime, with only 111 incidents per 100,000 residents and a 1 in 900 chance of being affected, making it a safe place for families and retirees. Property crime is somewhat higher but still manageable, with a 1 in 75 chance annually. Residents benefit from a secure environment and a strong sense of community safety.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
111
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
1,340
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
1,451
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 900
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 75
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Columbus, NC year-round?

Residents enjoy a mild climate, with winter lows averaging 27°F and summer highs reaching 87°F, making outdoor activities pleasant year-round. Columbus receives about 54 inches of rainfall annually and experiences sunny days 62% of the year. The comfortable seasonal changes and bright weather contribute to a high quality of life in the foothills.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
27°F
weather max
Max:
48°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
46°F
weather max
Max:
72°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
66°F
weather max
Max:
87°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
48°F
weather max
Max:
74°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
54.1 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
62%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Households in Columbus have a median income of $46,400, with a family income of $60,900 and a poverty rate of 14.6%. Most adults have completed high school, and nearly 30% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, reflecting a well-educated community. The area features low unemployment and short 19.5-minute average commutes, supporting a relaxed and convenient lifestyle.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$31,800
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$46,400
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$60,900
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$27,300
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$37,000
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$28,800
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
14.6%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
5.2%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$920
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
4.1%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.3%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
19.5 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
88.5%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
29.8%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Columbus, NC?

Columbus offers strong educational opportunities, featuring well-rated public schools like Polk Central Elementary and Polk County High, each with favorable student-teacher ratios. Families can also choose from private school options, and local access to Isothermal Community College supports lifelong learning. The town’s educational resources accommodate students from early childhood through adult education.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Polk Central Elementary School
education publicStreet
Street:
2141 NC-9 S
education publicPhone
Phone:
828-894-8233
education publicStudents
Students:
375
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
13.7


education publicName
Name:
Polk County High School
education publicStreet
Street:
1681 NC-108
education publicPhone
Phone:
828-894-2525
education publicStudents
Students:
650
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
14.4


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
Tryon Seventh-day Adventist School
education privateStreet
Street:
2820 Lynn Rd
education privatePhone
Phone:
828-859-0255
education privateStudents
Students:
48


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Isothermal Community College - Polk Center
education collegeCity
City:
Columbus
education collegeState
State:
NC
education collegeDistance
Distance:
2 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
400


Healthcare

Healthcare

Healthcare in Columbus is anchored by St. Luke’s Hospital, offering general and emergency services locally. With 2.1 physicians per 1,000 residents and nearly 90% health insurance coverage, access to care is strong. The town's healthcare index of 77.2 suggests residents benefit from reliable medical resources and services.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
St. Luke's Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
101 Hospital Dr, Columbus, NC 28722
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(828) 894-3311
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
2.1
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
89.0%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
77.2
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Columbus, NC?

Columbus offers a stable housing market, with a median home price of $275,000 and owner-occupancy above 57%. Rental options are accessible, with average two-bedroom rents at $920 and a vacancy rate of just over 8%. Modest home appreciation and low foreclosure rates make the area appealing for buyers and investors alike.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$275,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$920
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
57.6%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
8.3%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
4.7%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.6%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Residents of Columbus are served by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, located in nearby Marion. The DMV provides essential driver and vehicle services, with helpful staff and convenient online resources. The office is easily accessible for all registration, licensing, and renewal needs.

dmv state
State:
North Carolina
dmv department
Department:
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
dmv address
Address:
1995 Rutherford Rd, Marion, NC 28752
dmv phone
Phone:
1-919-715-7000
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 Columbus, NC

Planning a relocation in or near Columbus? 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 Columbus.

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FAQs About Moving to Columbus, NC

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

Moving within Columbus 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 Columbus. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

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

You should plan your move from Columbus 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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