County-level Census Bureau data covering income, housing, demographics, education, employment, and more. Counties are the primary administrative division in the U.S. and the most common unit for comparing local conditions across a state.
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).
Quick Facts — Columbus County
- What is the median household income in Columbus County?
- The median household income in Columbus County is $63,977 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
- What is the poverty rate in Columbus County?
- The poverty rate in Columbus County is 8.8% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
- What is the median home value in Columbus County?
- $236,500 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
- What is the average rent in Columbus County?
- The median gross rent in Columbus County is $893 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
- What percentage of Columbus County residents have a college degree?
- 21.8% of adults in Columbus County hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
Population
2,685
Median Income
$63,977
Median Home Value
$236,500
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Unemployment (ACS 2023)
7.1%
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Since 2019
Median Income:
+$6,543 (+11.4%)
Home Value:
+$109,600 (+86.4%)
Poverty Rate:
-0.1 pp (-1.1%)
Bachelor's+:
+11.2 pp (+105.7%)
Unemployment:
+3.2 pp (+82.1%)
Demographics
Total Population
2,685
Median Age
36.0
Female
45.3%
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%
White (non-Hisp.) 76.2%
Black 3.4%
Two or More 17.5%
Other 2.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Income & Poverty
Median Household Income
$63,977
±$10,775
-$5,927 vs. state
Per Capita Income
$92,180
Median Family Income
$69,871
Poverty Rate
8.8%
-0.6 pp vs. state
Child Poverty Rate
19.2%
Working-Age Poverty Rate
—
SNAP Recipients
11.3%
Social Security Income
—
Retirement Income
34.5%
Household Income Distribution
< $10k
3.0%
$10–15k
2.8%
$15–25k
11.7%
$25–35k
3.2%
$35–50k
11.4%
$50–75k
31.8%
$75–100k
12.9%
$100–150k
15.6%
$150–200k
4.2%
$200k+
3.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Housing
Total Housing Units
1,001
Owner-Occupied
83.2%
Renter-Occupied
16.8%
Vacancy Rate
6.4%
Median Home Value
$236,500
-$22,900 vs. state
Median Gross Rent
$893
Owner Cost Burden (30%+)
18.2%
Renter Cost Burden (30%+)
32.2%
Home Value Distribution
< $50k
6.4%
$50–100k
8.7%
$100–200k
14.4%
$200–300k
21.2%
$300–500k
21.3%
$500k–$1M
14.6%
$1M+
1.9%
Gross Rent Distribution
< $500
16.8%
$500–1k
45.5%
$1–1.5k
37.8%
Vehicle Availability
No vehicle
1.0%
1 vehicle
29.1%
2 vehicles
32.6%
3+
37.4%
Housing Type
Single-fam. det.
84.8%
Single-fam. att.
0.9%
5–19 units
1.5%
20+ units
0.3%
Mobile home
10.8%
Housing Age
Pre-1940
22.6%
1940–1969
7.3%
1970–1999
7.8%
2000–2009
18.1%
2010+
7.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Education
High School or Higher
88.2%
Bachelor's or Higher
21.8%
-12.9 pp vs. state
Graduate Degree
4.9%
Some College / Associate
21.7%
Less Than High School
1.4%
Enrolled in School
—
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Employment
Labor Force Participation
54.5%
Unemployment Rate
7.1%
+2.3 pp vs. state
Work from Home
3.5%
Self-Employed
9.4%
Government Workers
13.1%
Private For-Profit
77.6%
Industry
Manufacturing
28.9%
Edu/Health
14.0%
Retail
10.9%
Transportation
9.3%
Construction
7.6%
Prof. Services
6.5%
Finance
6.3%
Arts/Entmt.
5.7%
Public Admin
4.0%
Agriculture
1.8%
Information
1.4%
Wholesale
1.4%
Occupation
Management
30.8%
Sales
24.4%
Production
23.8%
Food Prep
10.6%
Construction
10.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Commute
Median Travel Time
29.6 min
Drove Alone
84.5%
Carpool
9.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Work from Home
3.5%
Walked
2.6%
Bicycle
—
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Households & Families
Total Households
937
Avg. Household Size
2.00
Avg. Family Size
—
Married-Couple Households
45.3%
Single-Mother Households
—
Single-Father Households
—
Living Alone
—
Households with Children
14.1%
Multigenerational
—
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Age Distribution
Under 5
6.7%
5–9
9.6%
10–14
5.7%
15–19
11.8%
20–24
4.6%
25–34
10.6%
35–44
10.6%
45–54
12.2%
55–64
3.0%
65–74
7.2%
75–84
12.3%
85+
4.2%
Under 18: 24.0%
Working age (18–64): 76.0%
65 and over: 18.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Social Characteristics
Immigration
Foreign Born
1.5%
Naturalized Citizen
38.5%
Speaks English Less Than Very Well
3.1%
Foreign-Born Origin
Latin America
61.5%
Europe
23.1%
Veterans & Disability
Veteran
4.7%
With a Disability
23.3%
Cognitive Difficulty
—
Ambulatory Difficulty
—
Health Insurance
Insured
90.5%
Uninsured
9.5%
Employer Insurance
—
Medicaid
—
Medicare
—
Technology & Mobility
Broadband Internet
79.7%
Has a Computer
90.2%
Same House 1 Year Ago
92.1%
Moved from Abroad
0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Compare Columbus County
Compare to another county →Where People Move From (IRS Migration Data)
Top origins of people who moved to Columbus County in 2023, by number of tax returns filed (IRS SOI Migration Data).
| Origin | Tax Returns | People (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | 148 | 323 |
| Other flows - South | 145 | 291 |
| Horry County | 109 | 220 |
| Other flows - Northeast | 81 | 140 |
| New Hanover County | 71 | 114 |
| Bladen County | 64 | 143 |
| Robeson County | 42 | 79 |
| Cumberland County | 38 | 77 |
| Other flows - Midwest | 30 | 60 |
| Wake County | 30 | 48 |