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Columbus, NC
Town in Polk County, North Carolina.
Population
1,071
Land area
3.8sq mi
People per sq mi
285
ZIP codes
0
Columbus and its ZIP codes
Columbus at a glance
- Columbus is 29% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $60,169 a year, 17% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $265,700 (8% below North Carolina) and median rent is $788 a month.
Local data for Columbus, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Columbus, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,169
Poverty rate
13.2%
Median home value
$265,700
Median rent
$788/mo
Homeownership
63.4%
Bachelor's or higher
25.1%
Median age
54.4
Average commute
21.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Scottish Americans (139), German Americans (135), Irish Americans (115).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Polk County. PPP loans are for Columbus.
Unemployment rate
2.7%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,328
5,598 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,236
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$222M
FY 2026, $11,501 per person
How people get to work
Columbus, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.6%
- Carpooled13.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home10.8%
Average one-way commute: 21.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbus, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
386
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
80
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 32°F
64.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbus, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.6%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
12.9%
U.S. 12.1% +0.8 pts
Smoking
11.6%
U.S. 12.8% -1.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.3%
U.S. 11.1% -0.8 pts
Cities near Columbus
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| TryonTown | 3.5 mi | 2 |
| Landrum, SCCity | 5.7 mi | 2.6 |
| SaludaCity | 8.2 mi | 1.6 |
| Campobello, SCTown | 9 mi | 2.8 |
| DanaCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 8.9 |
| East Flat RockCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 4.2 |
| Gramling, SCCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 1 |
| EdneyvilleCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 10.7 |
| Lake LureTown | 14 mi | 13.2 |
| Fingerville, SCCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| Barker HeightsCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1 |
| Chimney Rock VillageVillage | 14 mi | 3.4 |
| Flat RockVillage | 15 mi | 8.1 |
| FruitlandCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 8 |
| Inman Mills, SCCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 1.1 |
| Inman, SCCity | 15 mi | 1.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Columbus, NC in?
- Columbus is in Polk County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Columbus, NC?
- About 1,071 people live in Columbus, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Columbus?
- Nearby places include Tryon (3.5 mi), Landrum, SC (5.7 mi), Saluda (8.2 mi), Campobello, SC (9 mi), Dana (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023