Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 24% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
14%
Columbia, MO Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,240
Population
131,728
Renter Mix
54% Rent
As the home of the mighty Mizzou, CoMo delivers college town energy and modern urban sophistication.
College
•
Affordable
•
Nightlife
Welcome to Columbia, Missouri, where education and community spirit meet in the heart of the Show-Me State. As home to the University of Missouri, Columbia combines academic energy with friendly Midwestern charm. The rental market offers diverse options, from downtown apartments averaging $1,126 for a one-bedroom unit to residential neighborhoods, with one-bedroom rental rates showing a 7.6% increase over the past year. The historic East Campus neighborhood features classic architecture steps from campus, while downtown Columbia continues to grow with new residential communities among local shops and cafes.
Columbia's arts scene centers around the restored Missouri Theatre and the annual True/False Film Festival, a celebrated documentary showcase. Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the MKT Trail, which connects to the Katy Trail State Park, offering miles of paths for walking, running, and cycling. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park showcases Missouri's natural landscape with its cave systems and hiking trails. With three higher education institutions – the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College – the city maintains a strong academic presence while offering quality healthcare and entertainment options at reasonable living costs.
Popular Neighborhoods
Explore the City
Residents of Green Meadows frequently attend the always exciting Mizzou Tigers games.
Homes in Benton-Stephens often have large front porches to enjoy the sunset.
Kings Meadow is a neighborhood full of natural beauty.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$57,720
Average: $79,788
Education
52,061
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
69,690
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Columbia has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
54%
Non-Renters
46%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
33%
Other Education
67%
Rent Trends
As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Columbia, MO is $1,095 for a studio, $1,244 for one bedroom, $1,238 for two bedrooms, and $1,550 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Columbia has increased by 1.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,244/month
736 Sq Ft
House
$2,254/month
1,602 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,060/month
1,307 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,667/month
1,336 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Columbia, MO is 9.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 19.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,002 - $1,557. You can expect to pay 3.2% less for groceries, 6.0% less for utilities, and 11.4% less for transportation.
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Learn More About Columbia
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Columbia, MO is for everyday living.
Very Walkable
Walkability
80
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
60
/ 100
Very Bikeable
Bikeability
80
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
593 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
583 Students
Russell Blvd. Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
460 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
460 Students
Public
Grades K-5
152 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
593 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
579 Students
Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
719 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
719 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
553 Students
Rock Bridge Senior High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,997 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
2,044 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
2,044 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,492 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
199 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Enns Entomology Museum
- Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge
- Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
- Finger Lakes State Park
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Columbia Regional
Top Apartments in Columbia
Houses for Rent in Columbia
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.