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City

Columbia

#1 in Best Places to Live in Boone County
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • City in Missouri
  • 356 reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A
  2. Crime & Safety
    C+
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A
  6. Diversity
    A-
  7. Jobs
    A-
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    B
  10. Health & Fitness
    B+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A-
  12. Commute
    A
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Columbia is a city in Missouri with a population of 117,165. Columbia is in Boone County and is one of the best places to live in Missouri. Living in Columbia offers residents a suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Columbia there are a lot of parks. Many young professionals live in Columbia and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Columbia are highly rated.
About Columbia...
Population
117,165

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$178,600
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$803
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    53%
  • Own
    47%
Sponsored Mortgage Options for Columbia
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Columbia Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C+
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    225
    283
  • Murder
    5
    6
  • Rape
    69
    41
  • Robbery
    105
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    437
    500
  • Theft
    2,038
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    203
    284
Home Security Options for Columbia
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$45,221
National
$55,322
Children
16%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    26%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    29%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    24%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    16%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    6%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

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Columbia Reviews

356 reviews
All Categories
I have been in Columbia since the Spring of 2013. I love what this town has to offer. With big city dreams and a small town feel, Columbia, MO, is my new home. There are amazing eateries, niche shops in the downtown area, and opportunities galore! There is some pretty amazing colleges and universities in the area as well. Also, the hospitals have amazing experiences for those in the health science and business field. Did I mention the cost of living is pretty reasonable as it was rated in the top ten best places to live in America for someone starting out in their young adulthood.
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Columbia is the home of Mizzou Tigers! Everywhere you look you are welcomed to Columbia with the colors of Black and Gold! It is also a great community and has a great familly atmosphere. Columbia is known for quite a bit of trail to walk or ride which ever you prefer. They have the best resturants and if you like to play in the park with your family after a great meal, I suggest to walk at the Shelter Gardens! A very beautiful and peaceful, don't forget your camera when visit Columbia!
Columbia is a delightful, diverse little city with something for everyone. Good food from an array of locally owned restaurants complement the abundant live performance venues and festivals including True/False Film Festival and Roots and Blues and BBQ. Beautiful and accessible trails and parks abound here. The University of Missouri provides many opportunities for locals such as concerts, theatre, SEC sports, and many other public events. Columbia is also home to Stephens College and Columbia College. Shopping ranges from quaint shops in the charming downtown area to standard regional and national chains. Many locals attend one of the Christian churches, the mosque, the temple, or other places for spiritual gatherings. Healthcare is available from world-class facilities including the large medical center at the University. All this and a reasonable cost of living make Columbia a great choice for anyone from young families to retirees.