Columbus 59 Below average
Columbus Livability #228 ranked city in Mississippi#19,250 ranked city in the USARanks better than 34% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbus

PROS
  • 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.

CONS
  • 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.

  • Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

New Real Estate Listings in Columbus Area
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What's it like Living in Columbus?

Columbus is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Mississippi. The city has a population of 23,853 residents. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Columbus, only 43% of the population is married. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Columbus will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 19 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, moving to any new town can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Columbus, Mississippi could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Columbus, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, health & safety, employment and more.

Columbus has a livability score of 58 out of 100 and is ranked #240 in Mississippi and #19,924 in the USA. This score ranks well below the US average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Columbus ranks well for housing (B) Unfortunately for Columbus, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), education (F) and employment (F).

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Columbus market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

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. The median home price for Columbus homes is $115,100, which is 8.9% higher than the Mississippi average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Columbus, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 26.9% higher than the Mississippi average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Columbus

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Columbus?

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Compare Columbus, MS Livability

      vs

      Columbus transportation information

      Statistic Columbus Mississippi National
      Average one way commute19min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work85.5%84.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.5%9.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.6%1.5%2.8%
      Working from home4.9%2.2%4.6%
      Source: The Columbus, MS data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).