Columbia County, NY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,728 | 19,009,591 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 92.2 | 348.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.14% | 0.06% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 47.8 | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 26,098 | 7,641,851 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Columbia County declined by 1.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 61,245 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Columbia County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $84,090 | $85,191 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.04% | 4.93% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 1% lower than in New York.
Housing
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $277,196 | $436,407 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,198 | $1,576 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 54.2% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Columbia County is about 19.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,198 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Columbia County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 183 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.9 | 29.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 43.9 | 57.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 183 | 241 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,668 | $7,480 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 13.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,313 | 9,257 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 685 | 1,586 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New York:
Chautauqua County (15.3 min), Hamilton County (15.8 min), Clinton County (16.4 min).
Slowest:
Bronx County (45.1 min), Kings County (42.1 min), Queens County (42.1 min).
The average commute time in Columbia County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 29 minutes in New York.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Columbia County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 36.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.27 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New York:
New York County (0.5), Tompkins County (0.4), Westchester County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.2), Orleans County (0.2), Hamilton County (0.2).
Health
Columbia County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.8 | 80.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.2% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.1% | 17.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New York:
Tompkins County (0.8), Nassau County (0.8), New York County (0.8).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.8), Montgomery County (0.8), Cattaraugus County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Columbia County, New York.
What is the population of Columbia County, New York?
The population of Columbia County, New York is 59,728, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Columbia County, New York?
The population density of Columbia County, New York is 92.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Columbia County, New York?
The median household income in Columbia County, New York is $84,090, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Columbia County, New York?
The median home price in Columbia County, New York is $277,196, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Columbia County, New York?
The unemployment rate in Columbia County, New York is 5.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.