Nebraska city profile

Living in Columbus, Nebraska

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

Value score

71

3rd best value in Nebraska

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

Overall livability

80

1st overall in Nebraska

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

Columbus is home to about 23,954 people. A typical home runs $159,700 and a household earns around $60,600, a price-to-income ratio of 2.6. Among Nebraska's largest cities, it ranks 3rd for value and 1st overall.

Columbus at a glance

Median home price

$159,700

6th in NE of 12

Median rent

$803/mo

Median household income

$60,600

Home price to income

2.6x

Unemployment

2.5%

1st in NE of 12

School rating

4/10

7th in NE of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NE of 12

Walk score

1/100

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‹ See all top Nebraska cities ranked  ยท  Nebraska 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 Nebraska only. Updated 2026.