Columbia, KY

Census Place

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2023 Population

4,842

0.644% 1-year growth

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

27.9

1.09% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

22.5%

24.4% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$45,221

0.128% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$123,500

1.15% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

1,913

6.45% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Columbia, KY had a population of 4.84k people with a median age of 27.9 and a median household income of $45,221. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Columbia, KY grew from 4,811 to 4,842, a 0.644% increase and its median household income grew from $45,163 to $45,221, a 0.128% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (84.2%), Two+ (Hispanic) (6.13%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.47%), White (Hispanic) (1.92%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (1.9%).

None of the households in Columbia, KY 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.

92.6% of the residents in Columbia, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbia, KY are Lindsey Wilson College (750 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2023, the median property value in Columbia, KY was $123,500, and the homeownership rate was 43.7%.

Most people in Columbia, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 16.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbia, KY was 2 cars per household.

United States Kentucky Adair County, KY Lake Cumberland Area Development District (West) PUMA, KY

Population & Diversity

Columbia, KY is home to a population of 4.84k people, from which 92.6% are citizens. As of 2023, 9.29% of Columbia, KY residents were born outside of the country (450 people).

In 2023, there were 13.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (4.08k people) in Columbia, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 297 Two+ (Hispanic) and 168 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.6%

2023 Citizenship

93.5%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 92.6% of Columbia, KY residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Columbia, KY was 93.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
4.08k ± 198
Two+ (Hispanic)
297 ± 203
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
168 ± 132

9.46%

Hispanic Population

458 people

9.46% of the people in Columbia, KY are hispanic (458 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Columbia, KY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
28,651 ± 4,142 people
Cuba
14,970 ± 2,999 people
India
12,312 ± 2,720 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 28,651 Kentucky residents, followed by Cuba with 14,970 and India with 12,312.

Foreign-Born Population

9.29%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

450 people

8.02%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

386 people

As of 2023, 9.29% of Columbia, KY residents (450 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbia, KY was 8.02%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
90 ± 58
Gulf War (2001-)
85 ± 75
Gulf War (1990s)
2 ± 14

Columbia, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.06 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Columbia, KY employs 1.91k people. The largest industries in Columbia, KY are Retail Trade (313 people), Educational Services (305 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (297 people), and the highest paying industries are Wholesale Trade ($250,001), Transportation & Warehousing ($53,722), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($53,381).

Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $52,220. The income inequality in Kentucky (measured using the Gini index) is 0.452, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

1.91k

2023 Value

± 337

−6.45%

1 Year decline

± 26.2%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Columbia, KY declined at a rate of −6.45%, from 2.05k employees to 1.91k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbia, KY, are Sales & Related Occupations (247 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (233 people), and Material Moving Occupations (175 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbia, KY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Kentucky (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.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

1.91k

2023 Value

± 337

−6.45%

1 Year decline

± 26.2%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Columbia, KY declined at a rate of −6.45%, from 2.05k employees to 1.91k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbia, KY, are Retail Trade (313 people), Educational Services (305 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (297 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbia, KY, though some of these residents may live in Columbia, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$34,934

Median earning men ± $17,160

$23,603

Median earning women ± $7,080

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($53,977), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($44,295), and Manufacturing ($36,323).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Other Services Except Public Administration ($60,795), Public Administration ($43,359), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($33,378).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

2.51%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.98M people employed in Kentucky. This represents a 2.51% 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 14.4%.

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

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing the state of Kentucky. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 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, KY. Showing the available data for Kentucky.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (64.5%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (33.9%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.808%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

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

Senator Elections

US Senators from Kentucky

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

Mitch McConnell

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 1985

Rand Paul

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing Kentucky.

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 Kentucky over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Kentucky

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Kentucky have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Columbia, KY awarded 750 degrees. The student population of Columbia, KY in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,542 male students and 1,617 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbia, KY are White (485 and 67.5%), followed by Unknown (158 and 22%), Black or African American (46 and 6.4%), and Two or More Races (11 and 1.53%).

The largest universities in Columbia, KY by number of degrees awarded are Lindsey Wilson College (750 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Columbia, KY are Counseling Psychology (235 and 31.3%), General Human Services (170 and 22.7%), and General Business Administration & Management (69 and 9.2%).

The median tuition cost in Columbia, KY for private four year colleges is $25,944.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 3,159 students enrolled in Columbia, KY, 48.8% men and 51.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,670 records, of which 68% were women and 32% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
53 degrees awarded
General Psychology
26 degrees awarded
General Human Services
170 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Columbia, KY was General Business Administration & Management with 53 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Columbia, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Lindsey Wilson College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

750 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lindsey Wilson College with 750 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 206 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbia, KY, which is 0.379 times less than the 544 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 485 degrees mean that there were 3.07 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 158 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.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($25,944) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($284) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,000) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.821% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.756% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.17M), Some college (766k), and Secondary Education (551k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Columbia, KY was $123,500 in 2023, which is 0.407 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $122,100 to $123,500, a 1.15% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbia, KY is 43.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Columbia, KY have an average commute time of 16.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbia, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$123,500

Median Property Value 2023

±$24,805

$681

Median Property Taxes

±$175

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, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

43.7%

Homeownership

2023

66.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 43.7% of the housing units in Columbia, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 45.3%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9704.02
Census Tract 9704.01

The following map shows all of the places in Columbia, KY colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

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

$45,221

Median Household Income

± $8,960

1.56k

Number of Households

± 295

In 2023, the median household income of the 1.56k households in Columbia, KY grew to $45,221 from the previous year's value of $45,163.

The following chart displays the households in Columbia, KY 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbia, KY is from Kentucky.

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.453

2021 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2022, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.452 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.286% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kentucky in comparison to the national average.

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

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (64.6%)
Worked At Home (16.8%)
Carpooled (14.4%)

In 2023, 64.6% of workers in Columbia, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (16.8%) and those who carpooled to work (14.4%).

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

16.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbia, KY have a shorter commute time (16.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.08% of the workforce in Columbia, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

22.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbia, KY (824 out of 3.67k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Columbia, KY is White, followed by Two Or More 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.

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.

Health

95.1% of the population of Columbia, KY has health coverage, with 41.4% on employee plans, 27.4% on Medicaid, 9.82% on Medicare, 13.3% on non-group plans, and 3.14% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Adair County, KY see 3259 patients per year on average, which represents a 18.8% increase from the previous year (2743 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 9466 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 386 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Adair County, KY.

3,259 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Adair County, KY

Primary care physicians in Adair County, KY see an average of 3,259 patients per year. This represents a 18.8% increase from the previous year (2,743 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.5% under 18 years, 37.6% between 18 and 34 years, 25.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 44.4% were men and 55.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

4.94%

Uninsured

41.4%

Employer Coverage

27.4%

Medicaid

9.82%

Medicare

13.3%

Non-Group

3.14%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbia, KY declined by 15% from 5.82% to 4.94%.

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

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