Columbia, TN — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Tennessee·Columbia

Maury County · Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin · population 48,812

Growing fast
Columbia, TN
Image: Wikipedia · Columbia, Tennessee
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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74
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Columbia stands

At or near all-time high. population growing 4.0% per year.

Median home $374,557
1-year +1.0%
5-yr CAGR +6.7%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +4.0%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$375k$146k$227k$308k$390k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
100/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,582/mo$1,157$1,421$1,685202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent139129100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 19.7
Lean buy

At a 19.7 price-to-rent ratio, Columbia is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
55 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
73 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
90 · w16%
Rent YoY
60 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
85 · w10%
Long thesis

Columbia has been growing population at 4.0% per year while home values compounded +6.7% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Columbia's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Columbia

Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, with an estimated population of 48,812. It anchors the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metro area. The population has grown 4.0% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Columbia is $374,557 as of 2026-04, up 1.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.7% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Columbia average $1,582 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.2%). The composite momentum score is 74 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●People are voting with their feet: population growing 4.0% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
●Healthy 5-year run: +6.7% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Columbia (Wikipedia)

Columbia is a city in and the county seat of Maury County, Tennessee. The population was 48,885 as of the City of Columbia's 2024 Special Census conducted by the US Census Bureau. Columbia is included in the Nashville metropolitan area.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Maury County right now.

NWS active alerts (TN)Tennessee Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Maury County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Columbia

Gallatin, TN67 · RisingMount Juliet, TN71 · RisingSpring Hill, TN62 · RisingShelbyville, TN76 · Rising

Run the numbers for Columbia

ToolCan I afford Columbia?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Columbia rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Columbia to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolColumbia cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
47° / 28°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
88° / 68°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
207
~57% of year
Annual precip
54″ rain
5″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Columbia listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$64,700
Tennessee state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareMusic/EntertainmentManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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