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.
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.
Ratings
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
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.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
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.
Located in the state of Kansas, Columbus is a smaller city with a population of 3,062 residents. The majority of Columbus residents report their race to be White; this is followed by American Indian and Alaskan and Black. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Columbus is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 16 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Living in Columbus can be a positive experience for anyone relocating to the city. Having said that, in the state of Kansas, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like crime, cost of living, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Columbus and in the areas around Columbus is a much easier task.
Columbus, KS receives 71 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #110 in Kansas and #5,754 in the USA. Regrettably for Columbus, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), education (D-) and employment (D-).
Striving for a cost-effective lifestyle becomes increasingly essential, especially in light of the ongoing upward trajectory of everyday goods and services. In Columbus, residents enjoy the privilege of a cost of living that is 22.8% below the national average. This favorable positioning extends its influence across a broad spectrum of expenses, encompassing not only goods and services but also housing costs, groceries and healthcare costs. Consequently, this locale emerges as a hub where your financial resources go further, allowing you to maintain an economical and sustainable way of life. This affordability becomes increasingly significant in an era marked by escalating expenses, rendering Columbus an appealing destination for those in pursuit of financial prudence without sacrificing their quality of life.
Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 175 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Columbus boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.
The Columbus unemployment rate of 1.28% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.
Assuming that Columbus meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Columbus. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Columbus are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Columbus come in at $58,200, which is 57% lower than the Kansas average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Columbus, the home price to income ratio is 1.6, which is 36% lower than the Kansas average.
| Statistic | Columbus | Kansas | National |
| Average one way commute | 16min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 84.7% | 82.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.7% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 8.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 0.5% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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