Checked
Columbus, NE
City in Platte County, Nebraska.
Population
24,488
Land area
10.6sq mi
People per sq mi
2,305
ZIP codes
0
Columbus and its ZIP codes
Columbus at a glance
- Columbus is about 89 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
- It is the 10th most populous of 583 cities and towns in Nebraska.
- Households here earn a median of $64,626 a year, 15% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $213,600 (10% below Nebraska) and median rent is $892 a month.
Local data for Columbus, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Columbus, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$64,626
Poverty rate
11.3%
Median home value
$213,600
Median rent
$892/mo
Homeownership
66.1%
Bachelor's or higher
21.8%
Median age
37.4
Average commute
15.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,381), Mexican Americans (3,653), Polish Americans (2,050).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Platte County. PPP loans are for Columbus.
Unemployment rate
2.3%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$57,541
19,915 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,482
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$213M
FY 2026, $6,204 per person
How people get to work
Columbus, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.6%
- Carpooled11.2%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.4%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.1%
- Worked from home4.4%
Average one-way commute: 15.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbus, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
651
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
114
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 14°F
28.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone8 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbus, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
42.5%
U.S. 33.3% +9.2 pts
Diabetes
11.9%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.4%
U.S. 11.1% +2.3 pts
Cities near Columbus
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| LakeviewCensus-designated place | 4.6 mi | 0.4 |
| DuncanVillage | 7.2 mi | 0.5 |
| RichlandVillage | 7.8 mi | 0.2 |
| BellwoodVillage | 9.1 mi | 0.2 |
| Platte CenterVillage | 9.5 mi | 0.3 |
| MonroeVillage | 12 mi | 0.2 |
| TarnovVillage | 14 mi | 0 |
| SchuylerCity | 16 mi | 2.7 |
| Rising CityVillage | 17 mi | 0.4 |
| ShelbyVillage | 17 mi | 0.5 |
| OctaviaVillage | 17 mi | 0.2 |
| Silver CreekVillage | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| David CityCity | 18 mi | 4.2 |
| HumphreyCity | 19 mi | 0.5 |
| CrestonVillage | 19 mi | 0.2 |
| GenoaCity | 19 mi | 0.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Columbus, NE in?
- Columbus is in Platte County, Nebraska.
- What is the population of Columbus, NE?
- About 24,488 people live in Columbus, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Columbus?
- Nearby places include Lakeview (4.6 mi), Duncan (7.2 mi), Richland (7.8 mi), Bellwood (9.1 mi), Platte Center (9.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023