Columbus had 202,171 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates: down 2.3% since 2020, up 6.5% since 2010. Age, income, housing.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to the table it came from. Questions about Census data: the Census Bureau’s customer line, 1-800-923-8282. This page is updated when the bureau publishes new estimates.
Columbus had an estimated 202,171 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is 4,751 fewer people (2.3%) than the 2020 census count of 206,922, but 12,286 more (6.5%) than the 2010 census count of 189,885. Columbus and Muscogee County are one consolidated government, so the county’s population is the city’s. Columbus is Georgia’s second-largest city in the 2025 estimates, behind Atlanta (529,110) and 172 people ahead of Augusta-Richmond County (201,999).
Columbus at a glance
- Population: 202,171 (2025 estimate); 206,922 (2020 census)
- Median age: 35.4
- Households: 81,415, averaging 2.43 people
- Median household income: $58,073
- Median home value: $193,900; 50.8% of homes owner-occupied
- Source: Census Bureau QuickFacts for Columbus and the tables linked below
Population since 2010
| Year | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 189,885 | 2010 census |
| 2020 | 206,922 | 2020 census |
| 2021 | 205,164 | Vintage 2025 estimate |
| 2022 | 202,697 | Vintage 2025 estimate |
| 2023 | 202,073 | Vintage 2025 estimate |
| 2024 | 202,072 | Vintage 2025 estimate |
| 2025 | 202,171 | Vintage 2025 estimate |
Columbus grew 9% in the decade to 2020, adding 17,037 residents. The bureau’s estimates show the population falling by about 4,800 between 2020 and 2023 and holding steady since. Estimates are modeled from births, deaths and migration and are revised each year; the 2030 census will give the next full count. Housing units rose from 82,690 in 2010 to 90,348 in 2020.
Age and households
From the 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates:
| Measure | Columbus | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.6 |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 23.2% |
| 65 and older | 14.8% | 15.0% |
| Households | 81,415 | 4,074,366 |
| Average household size | 2.43 | 2.62 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 and older) | 30.5% | 34.9% |
Household and education figures are from table DP02.
Income
| Measure | Columbus | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,073 | $77,353 |
| People below the poverty level | 19.0% | 13.4% |
Income figures are in 2024 dollars, from table DP03. ACS five-year figures average survey responses from 2020 through 2024 and carry margins of error.
Housing
| Measure | Columbus | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 92,031 | 4,541,835 |
| Owner-occupied | 50.8% | 65.7% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes | $193,900 | $303,300 |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $1,393 |
From table DP04. For current prices, see our Columbus home prices page.
Columbus and its neighbors
| Place | 2010 census | 2020 census | 2025 estimate | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus (and Muscogee County) | 189,885 | 206,922 | 202,171 | $58,073 |
| Phenix City, Alabama | 32,822 | 38,816 | 38,344 | $50,053 |
| Cusseta-Chattahoochee County | 11,267 | 9,565 | 8,465 | not compared |
| Smiths Station, Alabama | 4,926 | 5,384 | 5,596 | $64,669 |
Phenix City, about 10 miles away across the Chattahoochee River, grew 18% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. Smiths Station, about 13 miles away, is still growing. The Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government, about 12 miles away, has lost people since 2010. Alabama figures are from the bureau’s Alabama city estimates and the 2020-2024 ACS.
What this means for you
- Columbus is a younger city than Georgia overall, with a median age of 35.4.
- About half of occupied Columbus homes are rented, well above the state share.
- The population has been flat since 2023, after a dip from the 2020 count.
Related: Columbus history and landmarks, Columbus home prices and your town, county and neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Columbus, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates Columbus had 202,171 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 206,922. Because the city and Muscogee County are consolidated, the county has the same population.
Is Columbus, Georgia, growing or shrinking?
Columbus grew 9% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 189,885 to 206,922. Since 2020 the Census Bureau’s estimates show a decline to 202,073 in 2023 and 202,072 in 2024, then a small rise to 202,171 in 2025.
What is the median household income in Columbus, Georgia?
$58,073 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $77,353 for Georgia as a whole.
What is the median age in Columbus, Georgia?
35.4 years, according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, younger than Georgia’s median of 37.6.
Is Columbus the second-largest city in Georgia?
Yes, narrowly. In the Census Bureau’s July 1, 2025, estimates Columbus had 202,171 residents, behind Atlanta’s 529,110 and just ahead of Augusta-Richmond County’s 201,999.
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