Columbia, Missouri Income Statistics
Columbia Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Columbia Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,936 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,896 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.3% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia is about 14% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Columbia (4.4%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Columbia earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia, Missouri grew by 54.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $60,936 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia
| Metric | Columbia | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.574 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,201 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,836 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.3% | 20.6% | 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, it is 0.574, higher than Missouri's 0.532, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Columbia, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $397,775 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, Missouri has widened from about 16% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2021, and was narrowest at 12% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,925 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Columbia widened by 2.6 points while Missouri's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.8% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 2,637 people are unemployed in Columbia, Missouri.
The average commute time in Columbia is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia, Missouri has fallen from 6.6% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.9% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2020.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia, Missouri.
How Rich Is Columbia, Missouri?
Columbia 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 $60,936, about 14% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Columbia, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia, Missouri rose 54%, from $39,486 to $60,936. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Missouri as a whole: +54% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Columbia in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia, Missouri was $59,411, up 6% from $55,821 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Columbia in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia, Missouri was $48,871. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $60,936.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia is 0.574. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Columbia, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia, Missouri has widened from about 16% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2021, and was narrowest at 12% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,925 since 2009.
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