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Georgia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Columbus?

What it costs to live in Columbus, and how it compares with other Georgia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

49

43rd best value in Georgia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Georgia cities.

Overall livability

45

51st overall in Georgia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Columbus is home to about 204,366 people. A typical home runs $146,000 and a household earns around $50,500, a price-to-income ratio of 2.9. Among Georgia's largest cities, it ranks 43rd for value and 51st overall.

Columbus at a glance

Median home price

$146,000

20th in GA of 82

Median rent

$951/mo

Median household income

$50,500

Home price to income

2.9x

Unemployment

8.0%

70th in GA of 82

School rating

3/10

56th in GA of 82

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in GA of 82

Walk score

24/100

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‹ See all top Georgia cities ranked  ยท  Georgia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Georgia only. Updated 2026.