Columbus, MS

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2020 Population

58,896

0.429% 1-year decline

US Senator

Roger Wicker

Republican Party

US Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

37.5

1.08% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

19.6%

4.22% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$48,170

4.5% 1-year decline

2020 Median Property Value

$136,300

1.56% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

23,965

1.75% 1-year decline

About

In 2020, Columbus, MS had a population of 58.9k people with a median age of 37.5 and a median household income of $48,170. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Columbus, MS declined from 59,150 to 58,896, a −0.429% decrease and its median household income declined from $50,441 to $48,170, a −4.5% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbus, MS are White (Non-Hispanic) (51.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (43.5%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.77%), White (Hispanic) (1.18%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.988%).

None of the households in Columbus, MS 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.

98.9% of the residents in Columbus, MS are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbus, MS are Mississippi University for Women (919 degrees awarded in 2020).

In 2020, the median property value in Columbus, MS was $136,300, and the homeownership rate was 62.2%.

Most people in Columbus, MS drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbus, MS was 2 cars per household.

Columbus, MS borders Starkville, MS, Tuscaloosa, AL, and West Point, MS.

About the photo: Somewhere a few miles southeast of Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus, Mississippi.

Photo by Roger Smith

Population & Diversity

Columbus, MS is home to a population of 58.9k people, from which 98.9% are citizens. As of 2020, 2.67% of Columbus, MS residents were born outside of the country (1.57k people).

In 2020, there were 1.18 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (30.1k people) in Columbus, MS than any other race or ethnicity. There were 25.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.04k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.9%

2020 Citizenship

99.1%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 98.9% of Columbus, MS residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Columbus, MS was 99.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbus, MS

White (Non-Hispanic)
30.1k ± 149
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
25.6k ± 497
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
1.04k ± 500

2.08%

Hispanic Population

1.23k people

2.08% of the people in Columbus, MS are hispanic (1.23k people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
18,827 ± 3,358 people
India
5,246 ± 1,777 people
Vietnam
4,118 ± 1,574 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Mississippi was Mexico, the natal country of 18,827 Mississippi residents, followed by India with 5,246 and Vietnam with 4,118.

Foreign-Born Population

2.67%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

1.57k people

2.27%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

1.35k people

As of 2020, 2.67% of Columbus, MS residents (1.57k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbus, MS was 2.27%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
977 ± 201
Gulf War (1990s)
950 ± 248
Gulf War (2001-)
885 ± 211

Columbus, MS has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.03 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Columbus, MS employs 24k people. The largest industries in Columbus, MS are Manufacturing (3,993 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (3,378 people), and Retail Trade (3,139 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($56,477), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($55,625), and Utilities ($54,354).

Males in Mississippi have an average income that is 1.41 times higher than the average income of females, which is $40,621. The income inequality in Mississippi (measured using the Gini index) is 0.45, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

24k

2020 Value

± 1,257

−1.75%

1 Year decline

± 7.39%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Columbus, MS declined at a rate of −1.75%, from 24.4k employees to 24k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbus, MS, are Sales & Related Occupations (2,688 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,038 people), and Production Occupations (2,010 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbus, MS.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Mississippi (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

24k

2020 Value

± 1,257

−1.75%

1 Year decline

± 7.39%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Columbus, MS declined at a rate of −1.75%, from 24.4k employees to 24k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbus, MS, are Manufacturing (3,993 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (3,378 people), and Retail Trade (3,139 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbus, MS, though some of these residents may live in Columbus, MS and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$43,252

Median earning men ± $3,071

$27,285

Median earning women ± $2,225

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($54,108), Public Administration ($53,315), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($52,250).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Public Administration ($60,057), Information ($39,410), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($38,216).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Mississippi. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

564
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
428
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
382
Retail Trade

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

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$899k
Manufacturing
$273k
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$127k
Wholesale Trade

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

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Mississippi to other states, or from other states to Mississippi.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Mississippi product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $30.5B, followed by Coal-n.e.c. ($25.1B) and Motorized vehicles ($12.3B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Mississippi products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Mississippi.

$182B

2020 Value in Mississippi

$374B

Projected 2050 Value in Mississippi

105% growth

In 2020, total outbound Mississippi trade was $182B. This is expected to increase 105% to $374B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Mississippi trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Mississippi to other states, or from other states to Mississippi.

Most Common Trade Partners

Alabama
$21.9B
Louisiana
$11.4B
Tennessee
$10.5B

In 2020, the top outbound Mississippi domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Alabama with $21.9B, followed by Louisiana with $11.4B and Tennessee and $10.5B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Mississippi shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith are the senators currently representing the state of Mississippi. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Mississippi is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from Mississippi

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

Roger Wicker

Senator from Mississippi

Assumed office on December 31, 2007
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Trent Lott.

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Senator from Mississippi

Assumed office on April 9, 2018
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Thad Cochran.

Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith are the senators currently representing Mississippi.

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

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from Mississippi

Mississippi is currently represented by 4 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 Mississippi have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Columbus, MS awarded 919 degrees. The student population of Columbus, MS in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 532 male students and 2,172 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbus, MS are White (573 and 64.7%), followed by Black or African American (298 and 33.6%), Asian (9 and 1.02%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (5 and 0.564%).

The largest universities in Columbus, MS by number of degrees awarded are Mississippi University for Women (919 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Columbus, MS are Registered Nursing (418 and 45.5%), General Business Administration & Management (119 and 12.9%), and Speech-Language Pathology (39 and 4.24%).

The median tuition cost in Columbus, MS for a public four year colleges is $7,425 for in-state students and $7,425 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Columbus, MS, the percentage of applicants admitted was 99%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 37.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 2,704 (19.7% men and 80.3% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 2,704 students enrolled in Columbus, MS, 19.7% men and 80.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,553 records, of which 78.2% were women and 21.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
113 degree-majors awarded
Public Health Education & Promotion
38 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
371 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Columbus, MS was General Business Administration & Management with 113 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Mississippi University for Women

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

919 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Mississippi University for Women with 919 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 122 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbus, MS, which is 0.153 times less than the 797 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 573 degrees mean that there were 1.92 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 298 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

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($7,425) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($100) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,600) 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 Mississippi.

Measure

In 2020, 0.876% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.697% 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 Mississippi.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (691k), Some college (559k), and Secondary Education (417k).

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 Columbus, MS was $136,300 in 2020, which is 0.593 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $134,200 to $136,300, a 1.56% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbus, MS is 62.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Columbus, MS have an average commute time of 20.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbus, MS is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Columbus, MS is $48,170. In 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Columbus, MS was Madison County, MS with a value of $71,621, followed by DeSoto County, MS and Rankin County, MS, with respective values of $69,990 and $68,310.

Housing

Property

$136,300

Median Property Value 2020

±$7,058

$13,958

Median Property Taxes

±$918

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

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

Rent vs Own

62.2%

Homeownership

2020

68.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 62.2% of the housing units in Columbus, MS were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 63.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Columbus, MS 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)

In 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Columbus, MS was Madison County, MS with a value of $71,621, followed by DeSoto County, MS and Rankin County, MS, with respective values of $69,990 and $68,310.

The following map shows all of the counties in Columbus, MS 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.

$48,170

Median Household Income

± $2,869

22.5k

Number of Households

± 1,188

In 2020, the median household income of the 22.5k households in Columbus, MS declined from $48,170 from the previous year's value of $50,441.

The following chart displays the households in Columbus, MS 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 $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbus, MS is from Mississippi.

0.45

2020 Wage GINI in Mississippi

0.445

2019 Wage GINI in Mississippi

In 2020, the income inequality in Mississippi was 0.45 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.17% growth from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Mississippi was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Mississippi in comparison to the national average.

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

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (86.7%)
Carpooled (6.22%)
Worked At Home (4.52%)

In 2020, 86.7% of workers in Columbus, MS drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (6.22%) and those who worked at home (4.52%).

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

20.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbus, MS have a shorter commute time (20.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 2.01% of the workforce in Columbus, MS have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbus, MS (11.2k out of 57k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Columbus, MS is Black, followed by White 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

88.3% of the population of Columbus, MS has health coverage, with 43% on employee plans, 17.3% on Medicaid, 11.1% on Medicare, 12.7% on non-group plans, and 4.24% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Mississippi was $7,646 in 2014. This is a 3.86% increase from the previous year ($7,362).

Primary care physicians in Mississippi see 1890 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.0529% increase from the previous year (1889 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2051 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 591 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Mississippi. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Mississippi, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

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

1,890 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Mississippi

Primary care physicians in Mississippi see an average of 1,890 patients per year. This represents a 0.0529% increase from the previous year (1,889 patients).

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

Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Mississippi across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.4% under 18 years, 20.9% between 18 and 34 years, 37.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 45.6% were men and 54.4% were women.

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

Uninsured People

11.7%

Uninsured

43%

Employer Coverage

17.3%

Medicaid

11.1%

Medicare

12.7%

Non-Group

4.24%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbus, MS declined by 3.01% from 12% to 11.7%.

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