Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 24% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
14%
Columbia
Columbia, MO Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,239
Population
131,728
Renter Mix
54% Rent
As the home of the mighty Mizzou, CoMo delivers college town energy and modern urban sophistication.
College
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Affordable
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Nightlife
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Sports
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Parks
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Nature
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Outdoors
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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.
Explore the City
Residents of Green Meadows frequently attend the always exciting Mizzou Tigers games.
Kings Meadow is a neighborhood full of natural beauty.
Homes in Benton-Stephens often have large front porches to enjoy the sunset.
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 May 2026, the average apartment rent in Columbia, MO is $1,000 for a studio, $1,235 for one bedroom, $1,235 for two bedrooms, and $1,535 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Columbia has increased by 2.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,235/month
734 Sq Ft
House
$2,077/month
1,437 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,999/month
1,327 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,617/month
1,406 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Columbia, MO is 9.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 20.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,000 - $1,535. You can expect to pay 3.1% less for groceries, 6.0% less for utilities, and 10.4% less for transportation.
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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
460 Students
Public
Grades K-5
152 Students
Public
Grades K-5
678 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
634 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
625 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
579 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
719 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
544 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
529 Students
Rock Bridge Senior High School
Public
Grades 9-12
2,032 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
2,044 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
1,581 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
199 Students
Public
Grades K-12
11 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
Property Management Companies in Columbia, MO
Garry Lewis Properties
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14
Communities
-
848
Units
-
4
Cities
7 Communities in Columbia
Alexander Forrest Investments, LLC
-
91
Communities
-
9,122
Units
-
60
Cities
5 Communities in Columbia
Mills Properties
-
34
Communities
-
9,777
Units
-
12
Cities
5 Communities in Columbia
Vesper Holdings
-
32
Communities
-
8,534
Units
-
24
Cities
3 Communities in Columbia
Winn Companies
-
158
Communities
-
27,342
Units
-
113
Cities
2 Communities in Columbia
JES Holdings LLC
-
25
Communities
-
1,568
Units
-
22
Cities
2 Communities in Columbia
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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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 February 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.