Columbus

Population: 1,166
Median household income: $56,083
Median home value: $210,100

Columbus is a community in Polk County, North Carolina, home to 1,166 residents. Its median household income of $56,083 runs below the Polk County figure of $61,005.

From 2019 to 2023, Columbus's population held roughly steady from 1,167 to 1,166, while its median home value rose 33.3% from $157,600 to $210,100.

Owners occupy 59.8% of the area's occupied homes. The median resident is 50.9 years old.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,166
Median age: 50.9 yrs
Median household income: $56,083
Median home value: $210,100
Median gross rent: $1,002
Housing units: 550
Homeownership rate: 59.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.7%
Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,1671,166

Median household income

$34,375$56,083

Median home value

$157,600$210,100

Median gross rent

$692$1,002

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,167	$34,375	$157,600	$692
2020	1,240	$43,125	$165,000	$617
2021	1,139	$46,779	$166,800	$529
2022	1,087	$53,333	$204,200	$575
2023	1,166	$56,083	$210,100	$1,002

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.5%

5 to 1712.2%

18 to 246.9%

25 to 3411.9%

35 to 449.9%

45 to 5410.3%

55 to 6417.9%

65 to 7414.7%

75 and over13.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	29	2.5%
5 to 17	142	12.2%
18 to 24	80	6.9%
25 to 34	139	11.9%
35 to 44	115	9.9%
45 to 54	120	10.3%
55 to 64	209	17.9%
65 to 74	171	14.7%
75 and over	161	13.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	816	70.0%
Black or African American	50	4.3%
American Indian & Alaska Native	15	1.3%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	8	0.7%
Two or more races	57	4.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	220	18.9%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma15.1%

High school graduate26.2%

Some college or associate's36.0%

Bachelor's degree16.3%

Graduate or professional degree6.4%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	138	15.1%
High school graduate	240	26.2%
Some college or associate's	329	36.0%
Bachelor's degree	149	16.3%
Graduate or professional degree	59	6.4%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone79.4%

Carpooled13.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.6%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home5.4%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	396	79.4%
Carpooled	68	13.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	8	1.6%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	27	5.4%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	189	40.0%
15 to 29 min	117	24.8%
30 to 44 min	120	25.4%
45 to 59 min	25	5.3%
60+ min	21	4.4%

Households

Average household size: 2.18
Poverty rate: 15.2% (169 of 1,111)

	Count	Share
Family households	304	59.6%
Nonfamily households	206	40.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1973

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	510	92.7%
Vacant	40	7.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	305	59.8%
Renter-occupied	205	40.2%

1-unit, detached67.8%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units15.3%

5 to 19 units4.4%

20 or more units4.9%

Mobile home & other7.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	373	67.8%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	84	15.3%
5 to 19 units	24	4.4%
20 or more units	27	4.9%
Mobile home & other	42	7.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3713980
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 3.76 sq mi
Water area: 0.01 sq mi
Center point: 35.2512, -82.2098