Columbus County, NC

About

N/A of the households in Columbus County, NC 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.

97.6% of the residents in Columbus County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbus County, NC are Southeastern Community College (711 degrees awarded in 2024).

Most people in Columbus County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbus County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Columbus County, NC borders Bladen County, NC, Brunswick County, NC, Pender County, NC, Robeson County, NC, Dillon County, SC, and Horry County, SC.

United States North Carolina

Population & Diversity

Columbus County, NC is home to a population of 50.1k people, from which 97.6% are citizens.

As of 2024, NaNk% of Columbus County, NC residents were born outside of the country (1.67k people).

In 2024, there were 2.09 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (29.4k people) in Columbus County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.68k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.6%

2024 Citizenship

98.6%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.6% of Columbus County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Columbus County, NC was 98.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbus County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
29.4k ± 155
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
14k ± 340
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.68k ± 379

5.65%

Hispanic Population

2.83k people

In 2024, there were 2.09 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (29.4k people) in Columbus County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.68k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

5.65% of the people in Columbus County, NC are hispanic (2.83k people).

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
851 ± 177
Gulf War (2001-)
644 ± 199
Gulf War (1990s)
467 ± 155

Columbus County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.32 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Columbus County, NC.

Health

87.3% of the population of Columbus County, NC has health coverage, with 32.3% on employee plans, 24.7% on Medicaid, 16.6% on Medicare, 12.6% on non-group plans, and 1.14% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Columbus County, NC see 2,505 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,505 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3563 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 597 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, N/A were men and N/A were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,505 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Columbus County, NC

Primary care physicians in Columbus County, NC see an average of 2,505 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,505 patients).

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

Location of Health Services Facilities

Health Service Type

Top 5 Health Facilities Servicing the Greatest Number of Addresses

Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4001
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4002
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4003
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4004
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4005

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.7% under 18 years, 19.2% between 18 and 34 years, 37.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, N/A were men and N/A were women.

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

Uninsured People

12.7%

Uninsured

32.3%

Employer Coverage

24.7%

Medicaid

16.6%

Medicare

12.6%

Non-Group

1.14%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbus County, NC declined by 6.84% from 13.6% to 12.7%.

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

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 5.74 in Columbus County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Columbus County, NC.

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 39.2% in Columbus County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Columbus County, NC.

Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 13.7% in Columbus County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Columbus County, NC.

Economy

The economy of Columbus County, NC employs 19.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Columbus County, NC were N/A, and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($101,058), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($63,125), and Information ($62,614).

Employment

Occupations

19.8k

2024 Value

± 1,111

1.1%

1 Year growth

± 7.93%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Columbus County, NC grew at a rate of 1.1%, from 19.6k employees to 19.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbus County, NC, are N/A. This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbus County, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (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

19.8k

2024 Value

± 1,111

1.1%

1 Year growth

± 7.93%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Columbus County, NC grew at a rate of 1.1%, from 19.6k employees to 19.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbus County, NC, are N/A. This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbus County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Columbus County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$43,094

Median earning men ± $2,466

$36,052

Median earning women ± $1,205

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($77,472), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($54,727), and Public Administration ($52,295).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($49,740), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($42,162), and Wholesale Trade ($41,375).

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$130k
Manufacturing
$103k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$69.8k
Retail Trade

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

Civics

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

N/A is currently represented by N/A 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 Columbus County, NC. Showing the available data for undefined.

In the N/A presidential election, the popular vote in N/A went to N/A with N/A% of the vote. The runner-up was N/A (N/A%), followed by N/A (N/A%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in N/A for each registered party from 1976 to N/A.

Education

The student population of Columbus County, NC in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 535 male students and 891 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbus County, NC are White (460 and 64.7%), Black or African American (124 and 17.4%), Hispanic or Latino (61 and 8.58%), and Unknown (33 and 4.64%).

The largest universities in Columbus County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Southeastern Community College (711 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Columbus County, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (108 and 15.2%), Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (107 and 15%), and General Business Administration & Management (102 and 14.3%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 1,426 students enrolled in Columbus County, NC, 37.5% men and 62.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 696 records, of which 63.5% were women and 36.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
108 degrees awarded
Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
107 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
24 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Columbus County, NC was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 108 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Columbus County, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Southeastern Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

711 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southeastern Community College with 711 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In N/A, N/A men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbus County, NC, which is N/A times N/A than the N/A female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 460 degrees mean that there were 3.71 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 124 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

People in Columbus County, NC have an average commute time of 29.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbus County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Columbus County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.2%.

Housing

Rent vs Own

71.1%

Homeownership

2024

62.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 71.1% of the housing units in Columbus County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 72.3%.

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

Equity

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbus County, NC is from North Carolina.

0.466

2024 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2024, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was approximately the same as than the national average of N/A. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

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

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (83.3%)
Carpooled (8.88%)
Worked At Home (5.42%)

In 2024, 83.3% of workers in Columbus County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.88%) and those who worked at home (5.42%).

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

29.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbus County, NC have a longer commute time (29.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.57% of the workforce in Columbus County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Columbus County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.2%.

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

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 30.2% of the children was living in poverty in Columbus County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.8%.

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

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

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 388 in Columbus County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 61.6% per 100,000 population.

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

Columbus County, NC

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