Columbia

Columbia, Maryland Overview

Columbia scores 59.0/100 overall (B+), ranking #9 of 20 cities in Maryland — below the state composite of 67.7. Education is the city’s relative strength at 79/100, while Outdoor Access lags at 12/100.

Income & Employment in Columbia

The median household income in Columbia is $115,564, 17% above the statewide median of $98,461. The local unemployment rate of 3.6% is higher than the state’s 2.9%.

Cost of Living in Columbia

Columbia has a cost of living index of 102.7 (where 100 equals the national average), slightly above the national benchmark. The median home value is $480,300. Median monthly rent is $1,998. Renters spend 20.7% of income on rent, well within the 30% affordability guideline.

Health & Wellness in Columbia

The adult obesity rate in Columbia is 32.2% (CDC PLACES). The diabetes prevalence rate is 10.6%. Residents average 13.3 poor mental health days per month. Maryland ranks #8 nationally for overall health.

Education & Schools in Columbia

Columbia’s high school graduation rate of 93% is well above average, reflecting strong local school performance. The student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1 indicates smaller class sizes. Local districts invest $19,256 per student, well above the national median. The city has 23 public schools serving 15,676 students. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate & Commute in Columbia

Columbia enjoys a moderate climate with an annual average of 57.1°F. Summers average 73.8°F. Winters average 42.2°F. Annual precipitation is 43.5 inches. 18.5% of workers in Columbia work from home, well above the national average.

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