Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Columbus, NE

    Is Columbus a good place to live?

    Watch Columbus

    Columbus ranks #2 of 9 Nebraska cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (63/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $198,900
    +5.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $871
    per month
    Household income
    $67,212
    median
    Unemployment
    3.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Columbus

    The median home value in Columbus is $198,900 and median rent is $871 a month, against a median household income of $67,212. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Columbus crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Nebraska the 2025 rate was 223 violent and 1,404 property crimes per 100,000 people — #32 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Columbus, NE

    Columbus has about 24,188 residents, 3.0% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Columbus with

    Columbus vs OmahaColumbus vs LincolnColumbus vs BellevueColumbus vs Grand IslandColumbus vs KearneyColumbus vs FremontColumbus vs NorfolkColumbus vs Hastings

    More: Where to move in Nebraska · Best counties in Nebraska

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report