Columbia County, GA

County

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2024 Population

162,434

US Senator

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

US Senator

Raphael Warnock

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

37.9

1.07% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

7.47%

9.56% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$95,592

0.551% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

$305,300

6.23% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

74,739

1.58% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Columbia County, GA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97% of the residents in Columbia County, GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbia County, GA are Augusta School of Massage (35 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Columbia County, GA was $305,300, and the homeownership rate was 78.1%.

Most people in Columbia County, GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbia County, GA was 2 cars per household.

Columbia County, GA borders Lincoln County, GA, McDuffie County, GA, Richmond County, GA, Edgefield County, SC, and McCormick County, SC.

United States Georgia Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC

Population & Diversity

Columbia County, GA is home to a population of 162k people, from which 97% are citizens. As of 2024, 7.33% of Columbia County, GA residents were born outside of the country (11.9k people).

In 2024, there were 3.38 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (103k people) in Columbia County, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 30.4k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 7.68k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97%

2024 Citizenship

97.3%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97% of Columbia County, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Columbia County, GA was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Columbia County, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbia County, GA

White (Non-Hispanic)
103k ± 466
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
30.4k ± 814
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
7.68k ± 476

7.99%

Hispanic Population

13k people

7.99% of the people in Columbia County, GA are hispanic (13k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Columbia County, GA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Georgia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
229,616 ± 11,639 people
India
106,959 ± 7,990 people
Jamaica
51,506 ± 5,559 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 229,616 Georgia residents, followed by India with 106,959 and Jamaica with 51,506.

Foreign-Born Population

7.33%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

11.9k people

7.12%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

11.4k people

As of 2024, 7.33% of Columbia County, GA residents (11.9k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbia County, GA was 7.12%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Columbia County, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
8,685 ± 984
Vietnam
3,359 ± 426
Gulf War (1990s)
2,490 ± 444

Columbia County, GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 2.59 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Columbia County, GA.

Economy

The economy of Columbia County, GA employs 74.7k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Columbia County, GA were Health Care & Social Assistance (9,936 people), Educational Services (7,642 people), and Manufacturing (6,654 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($89,081), Utilities ($79,716), and Manufacturing ($76,902).

Employment

Occupations

74.7k

2024 Value

± 2,772

1.58%

1 Year growth

± 5.28%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Columbia County, GA grew at a rate of 1.58%, from 73.6k employees to 74.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbia County, GA, are Management Occupations (9,507 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,605 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (6,169 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbia County, GA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Georgia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

74.7k

2024 Value

± 2,772

1.58%

1 Year growth

± 5.28%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Columbia County, GA grew at a rate of 1.58%, from 73.6k employees to 74.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbia County, GA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (9,936 people), Educational Services (7,642 people), and Manufacturing (6,654 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbia County, GA, though some of these residents may live in Columbia County, GA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$64,293

Median earning men ± $3,746

$43,602

Median earning women ± $3,542

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Manufacturing ($86,580), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($75,920), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($75,347).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($64,779), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($63,720), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($62,734).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Y-Axis

2.94%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.87M people employed in Georgia. This represents a 2.94% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 11.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Georgia.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

205
Construction
201
Other Services (except Public Administration)
178
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$294k
Retail Trade
$260k
Manufacturing
$222k
Health Care and Social Assistance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Donald J. Trump with 50.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.5%), followed by Chase Oliver (0.394%).

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing the state of Georgia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Columbia County, GA. Showing the available data for Georgia.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.7%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (48.5%)
Democratic Party
Chase Oliver (0.394%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Donald J. Trump with 50.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.5%), followed by Chase Oliver (0.394%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Georgia for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Georgia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Jon Ossoff

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Inauguration delayed as incumbent senator David Perdue's term expired on January 3, 2021, two days prior to the runoff election.

Raphael Warnock

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Elected to the seat to succeed Kelly Loeffler, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing Georgia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Georgia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Columbia County, GA awarded 35 degrees. The student population of Columbia County, GA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 6 male students and 21 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbia County, GA are Black or African American (14 and 40%), White (14 and 40%), Two or More Races (4 and 11.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (2 and 5.71%).

The largest universities in Columbia County, GA by number of degrees awarded are Augusta School of Massage (35 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Columbia County, GA are Massage Therapy (35 and 100%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 27 students enrolled in Columbia County, GA, 22.2% men and 77.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Black or African American with 12 records, of which 83.3% were women and 16.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Massage Therapy

Most Common

35 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years recipients in Columbia County, GA was Massage Therapy with 35 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years from schools in Columbia County, GA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Augusta School of Massage

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

35 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Augusta School of Massage with 35 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 9 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbia County, GA, which is 0.346 times less than the 26 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Black or African American students. These 14 degrees mean that there were 1 times more degrees awarded to Black or African American students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 14 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Columbia County, GA was $305,300 in 2024, which is 0.918 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $287,400 to $305,300, a 6.23% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbia County, GA is 78.1%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Columbia County, GA have an average commute time of 24.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbia County, GA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 8.52% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Columbia County, GA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.98%.

Housing

Property

$305,300

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,379

$43,093

Median Property Taxes

±$1,815

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Columbia County, GA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Columbia County, GA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

78.1%

Homeownership

2024

67.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 78.1% of the housing units in Columbia County, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 78.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Columbia County, GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$95,592

Median Household Income

± $3,151

55.1k

Number of Households

± 2,160

In 2024, the median household income of the 55.1k households in Columbia County, GA declined from $95,592 from the previous year's value of $96,122.

The following chart displays the households in Columbia County, GA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbia County, GA is from Georgia.

0.471

2023 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.474

2022 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2023, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.471 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.558% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Georgia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Georgia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (79.1%)
Worked At Home (11%)
Carpooled (8.37%)

In 2024, 79.1% of workers in Columbia County, GA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (11%) and those who carpooled to work (8.37%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

24.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbia County, GA have a shorter commute time (24.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.01% of the workforce in Columbia County, GA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Columbia County, GA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Columbia County, GA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Columbia County, GA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 8.52% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Columbia County, GA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.98%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

7.47% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbia County, GA (12k out of 161k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Columbia County, GA is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 8.1% of the children was living in poverty in Columbia County, GA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 51.6 in Columbia County, GA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 65.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

90.7% of the population of Columbia County, GA has health coverage, with 45.6% on employee plans, 6.98% on Medicaid, 10.3% on Medicare, 19% on non-group plans, and 8.91% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Columbia County, GA see 950 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (950 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1728 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 706 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

950 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Columbia County, GA

Primary care physicians in Columbia County, GA see an average of 950 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (950 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Columbia County, GA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.7% under 18 years, 19.1% between 18 and 34 years, 38.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.29%

Uninsured

45.6%

Employer Coverage

6.98%

Medicaid

10.3%

Medicare

19%

Non-Group

8.91%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbia County, GA grew by 4.62% from 8.88% to 9.29%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Columbia County, GA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 47.8 in Columbia County, GA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Columbia County, GA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36% in Columbia County, GA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Columbia County, GA.