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PA area data

Columbia, PA

Columbia, PA.

Population: 18,148 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Columbia, PA is $299,587 — up 4.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $330,000 after a median 55 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,318/month. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with winterweather, coldwave, hurricane the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 2.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$299,587

Median home value

+4.0%

1-year change

55

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$299,587
1-year appreciation
+4.0%
3-year appreciation
+16.1%
5-year appreciation
+37.3%
10-year appreciation
+102.2%
All-time peak (2026-07)
$299,587
House Price Index (state)
370.8 (+4.0% YoY)

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

Market activity

Median sale price
$330,000
Median list price
$379,900
Median price per sqft
$206
1-year sale-price change
+10.0%
Median days on market
55 days
Homes sold (recent period)
17
For-sale inventory
38
Sale-to-list ratio
101.4%
Active listings
16
1-year forecast
+3.0%
Days to pending
27 days
New listings (monthly)
22

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

Rents

Typical rent
$1,318/mo
1-year rent change
+4.1%
Studio fair-market rent
$867/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,083/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,339/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,740/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,008/mo

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

Affordability

Cost of living index (Average)
97.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
19.3¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$15.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

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

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
1
Schools include
Columbia HS, Park El Sch

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

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
winterWeather, coldWave, hurricane, inlandFlooding, lightning
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · hurricane: Relatively High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 6% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
43.2%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
UGI Columbia Gas Plant (1.2 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)

Average annual temperature
55.0°F
Average high
63.0°F
Average low
47.0°F
Annual precipitation
49.0 in
Annual snowfall
25.5 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)

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

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
58
Days with Good air quality
108
Days with Moderate air quality
243
Days with Unhealthy air quality
3
Highest AQI recorded (year)
321

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
11.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
1,000
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
48,228
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
48,463

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
11
Nearest national park
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (26 mi)
National parks include
Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Airports within 30 mi
40
Nearest airport
Mc Ginness Airport (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Lancaster Airport (LNS) (12 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
10
Hospitals include
WELLSPAN YORK HOSPITAL, WELLSPAN SURGERY AND REHABILITATION HOSPITAL, UPMC LITITZ
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.7 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

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

Migration

Net migration (county)
-502 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,959
Housing built before 1970
58.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
8.8%
Median annual property tax
$3,683
Mean commute to work
22 min
Households with broadband internet
74.7%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
231,089
Average weekly wage
$1,106
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
677

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

How it compares

ColumbiaState medianUS median
Median home value$299,587$237,154$289,727
Median sale price$330,000$254,900$325,000
Median days on market55 days43 days51 days
Typical rent$1,318/mo$1,544/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$3,683$2,326$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 Columbia, PA?
$299,587.
What is the median sale price in Columbia, PA?
$330,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Columbia, PA?
Median days on market: 55 days.
What is typical rent in Columbia, PA?
Typical rent: $1,318/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Columbia, PA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: winterWeather, coldWave, hurricane, inlandFlooding, lightning.
What is the wildfire risk in Columbia, PA?
Risk to homes is higher than 6% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Columbia, PA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Columbia, PA?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: UGI Columbia Gas Plant, 1.2 mi.
How many schools serve Columbia, PA?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Columbia, PA walkable?
Walkability index: 11.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Columbia, PA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 58. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Columbia, PA?
Regional Price Parity: 97.5 (100 = US average) (Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Columbia

Selling a home in Columbia, PA?

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Data last updated

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

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