Columbia County, Florida Income Statistics
Columbia County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Columbia County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia County | Florida Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,118 | $74,580 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,525 | $52,322 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 11.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.8% | 11.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 21% lower than in Florida. Income has been growing slower in Columbia County (4.1%/yr) than in Florida (5.4%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Columbia County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Florida average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia County, Florida grew by 52.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,118 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia County
| Metric | Columbia County | Florida Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.547 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,707 | $60,595 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,646 | $50,762 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.6% | 16.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Columbia County, it is 0.547, about the same as Florida's 0.551, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 11% more than women's income in Columbia County, Florida. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $177,135 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Florida has narrowed from about 17% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,213 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia County | Florida Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.3% | 15.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,663 people are unemployed in Columbia County, Florida.
The average commute time in Columbia County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Florida.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia County, Florida has fallen from 15.9% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 18.8% in 2012.
Columbia County, FL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Columbia County, FL is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 71,789 residents against a local median of 27,885. Where Columbia County, FL breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 18% below the local median of 5.1%/yr at 4.1%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.2%/yr on income growth, so Columbia County, FL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Columbia County, FL has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, FL | 71,789 | $59,118 #4/6 | 4.1%/yr #5/6 | 5.3% #4/6 | 0.547 #1/6 |
| Union County, FL | 15,701 | $64,093 | 6.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.674 |
| Baker County, FL | 28,430 | $80,080 | 5.3%/yr | 4.5% | 0.566 |
| Suwannee County, FL | 45,342 | $56,397 | 5.1%/yr | 6.3% | 0.567 |
| Hamilton County, FL | 13,616 | $50,135 | 3.6%/yr | 6.7% | 0.600 |
| Bradford County, FL | 27,885 | $62,931 | 5.0%/yr | 4.7% | 0.590 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia County, Florida has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Florida, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia County, Florida.
How Rich Is Columbia County, Florida?
Columbia County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $59,118, about 21% lower than the Florida average of $74,580.
Are incomes growing in Columbia County, Florida?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia County, Florida rose 52%, from $38,869 to $59,118. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Florida as a whole: +52% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia County, Florida was $55,007, up 2% from $53,721 in 2022. The Florida median that year was $71,864.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia County, Florida was $44,868. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $59,118.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia County, Florida?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia County is 0.547. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Columbia County, Florida?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Florida has narrowed from about 17% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,213 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →