Skip to main content

NC area data

Columbus, NC

Columbus, NC.

Population: 6,086 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Columbus, NC is $340,029 — down 1.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $370,000 after a median 46 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with icestorm, landslide, lightning the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$340,029

Median home value

-1.0%

1-year change

46

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$340,029
1-year appreciation
-1.0%
3-year appreciation
+6.1%
5-year appreciation
+23.1%
10-year appreciation
+89.2%
All-time peak (2025-10)
$344,543
House Price Index (state)
445.4 (+0.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$370,000
Median list price
$409,950
Median price per sqft
$225
1-year sale-price change
0.0%
Median days on market
46 days
Homes sold (recent period)
23
For-sale inventory
59
Sale-to-list ratio
95.7%
Active listings
48
New listings (monthly)
10

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$757/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$885/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,012/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,401/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,692/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
94.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
0
Middle schools
0
High schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
18.6 : 1
Schools include
Polk County High School, Polk County Early College

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, landslide, lightning, strongWind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
hail: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively Low · coldWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 59% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
96.2%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
General Electric Co/Shepherd Farm (16.2 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
57.4 in
Annual snowfall
1.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
5
Nearest national park
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (19 mi)
National parks include
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Cowpens National Battlefield, Blue Ridge Parkway
Airports within 30 mi
30
Nearest airport
Rondo Airport (5 mi)
Nearest major airport
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (26 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
ADVENT HEALTH POLK
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
4
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.5 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+202 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,987
Housing built before 1970
20.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
19.9%
Median annual property tax
$1,691
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
69.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
4,656
Average weekly wage
$877
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
141

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ColumbusState medianUS median
Median home value$340,029$285,911$288,527
Median sale price$370,000$330,000$325,000
Median days on market46 days70 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,691$1,366$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Columbus, NC?
$340,029.
What is the median sale price in Columbus, NC?
$370,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Columbus, NC?
Median days on market: 46 days.
What is typical rent in Columbus, NC?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,012/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Columbus, NC?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, landslide, lightning, strongWind.
What is the wildfire risk in Columbus, NC?
Risk to homes is higher than 59% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Columbus, NC?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Columbus, NC?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Columbus, NC?
2 schools (2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
What is the cost of living in Columbus, NC?
Regional Price Parity: 94.3 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Columbus

Listing a home in Columbus, NC?

REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer and renter questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.

Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents