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Columbus, MS
City in Lowndes County, Mississippi. ZIP codes: 39705.
Population
23,348
Land area
25.1sq mi
People per sq mi
931
ZIP codes
1
Columbus and its ZIP codes
Columbus at a glance
- Columbus is about 15 times as dense as Mississippi as a whole.
- It is the 18th most populous of 420 cities and towns in Mississippi.
- Households here earn a median of $42,235 a year, 25% less than the Mississippi figure of $56,447.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $125,700 (26% below Mississippi) and median rent is $897 a month.
Local data for Columbus, MS
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools12
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks19
- Post Offices3
- Parks9
- Grocery Stores14
- Restaurants147
- Affordable Housing5
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment4
- Private Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities4
- Historic Places20
Housing and community stats
Columbus, MS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$42,235
Poverty rate
21.3%
Median home value
$125,700
Median rent
$897/mo
Homeownership
47.8%
Bachelor's or higher
26.2%
Median age
41.1
Average commute
19.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (991), German Americans (641), Mexican Americans (330).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lowndes County. PPP loans are for Columbus.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$59,265
26,162 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,109
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$572M
FY 2026, $9,718 per person
How people get to work
Columbus, MS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone87.8%
- Carpooled5.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 19.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbus, MS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: tornado
Storm events since 1996
600
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
594
2.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
94° / 36°F
56.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone20 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbus, MS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.3%
U.S. 33.3% +8.0 pts
Diabetes
19.0%
U.S. 12.1% +6.9 pts
Smoking
18.6%
U.S. 12.8% +5.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.1%
U.S. 11.1% +2.0 pts
ZIP codes in Columbus
1 in or overlapping Columbus. Population shown
Cities near Columbus
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| New HopeCensus-designated place | 4.9 mi | 5 |
| Columbus AFBCensus-designated place | 8.4 mi | 1.5 |
| Macedonia, ALCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 3.9 |
| Ethelsville, ALTown | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| CaledoniaTown | 12 mi | 2.8 |
| ArtesiaTown | 16 mi | 0.9 |
| HamiltonCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.2 |
| New HamiltonCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.6 |
| West PointCity | 16 mi | 20.9 |
| Millport, ALTown | 18 mi | 5.5 |
| CrawfordTown | 20 mi | 1.4 |
| Pickensville, ALTown | 21 mi | 7.8 |
| BrooksvilleTown | 22 mi | 1.6 |
| Reform, ALTown | 23 mi | 8 |
| Mississippi StateCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 2.2 |
| AberdeenCity | 24 mi | 12.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Columbus, MS in?
- Columbus is in Lowndes County, Mississippi.
- What ZIP codes are in Columbus, MS?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Columbus include 39705.
- What is the population of Columbus, MS?
- About 23,348 people live in Columbus, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Columbus?
- Nearby places include New Hope (4.9 mi), Columbus AFB (8.4 mi), Macedonia, AL (12 mi), Ethelsville, AL (12 mi), Caledonia (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023