Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Columbia is a medium-sized city located in the state of Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 10,369 residents. Columbia has a population density of 4,296 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. According to the most recent Census, 83% of Columbia residents are White, 11% Black and 0% Asian. Columbia is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 49%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Columbia is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 24 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Columbia could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Pennsylvania if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, commute, health & safety and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Columbia and in the areas around Columbia is a much easier task.
Columbia has a livability score of 71/100 and is ranked #529 in Pennsylvania and #5,788 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we see that Columbia ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A). Columbia does not fare well for the following: amenities (D), crime (D), education (D-) and employment (D). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Columbia can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Columbia is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Columbia come in at $125,300, which is 25.3% lower than the Pennsylvania average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Columbia, the home price to income ratio is 3, which is 3.2% lower than the Pennsylvania average.
| Statistic | Columbia | Pennsylvania | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 26min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.9% | 76.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.5% | 8.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 4.0% | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.4% | 3.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.8% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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