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Pros and Cons of Living in Columbia, Missouri

Columbia

City in Missouri

LIVABILITY RATING

73

/ 100

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City Scores and Ratings

B

LIVABILITY

A+

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Pros and Cons of Living in Columbia

You might be looking to move to Columbia, Missouri or just interested in the city’s livability, so to help you, we’ve put together the pros and cons of living in Columbia. This assessment ranks the factors used to assess livability and compares them against other cities on a national and state level. While this assessment should give a good detailed idea about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Columbia, it might not incorporate all areas that might appeal to some people.

Since moving to a new city can be a big decision. Hopefully, this evaluation will help you in your career change, relocation, or just a change.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Livability
  • Cost of Living
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Social Factors from Population Density

Cons

  • Environmental Factors from Population Density

Details of Pros and Cons


Living in Columbia, Missouri

Columbia is a mid sized city in the state of Missouri which is located in the county of Boone. Columbia hasn't seen a lot of growth of new residents over the past 5 years but maintained a small consistent amount of new residents moving into the city. The population has reached 120248 with a population growth rate of 0.5% in the last year and 5.3% in the last 5 years.Living in Columbia has a dense urban feel, which can be fast paced place where people typically live and work closely together. There is always a new restaurant to try and good nightlife in the area.

City Type:

Dense Urban

Home Value:

$185,700

Mortgage:

$1,410

The estimates above for a typical home value and mortgage are based on median values for the area. Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

Is Columbia, Missouri a good place to live?

Yes, Columbia is a great place to live. Columbia ranks well in a combination of factors and diversity. Columbia  truly has something for everyone, and that’s why it’s a great place to call home.

Ultimately, what makes a great city to live in is subjective. Some people might prefer a smaller city with a tight-knit community, while others might prefer a larger city with more options. The important thing is that a city provides what its residents need and want. If a city has everything a person is looking for, it can be a great place to live.

There are a lot of factors that make a city a good place to live. One of the most important is affordability. Housing costs shouldn’t consume too much of a person’s income. Another important factor is job availability. A city should have a healthy economy and a variety of jobs to choose from.

A city also needs to be safe. People should feel comfortable walking around at night and there shouldn’t be a lot of crime. Amenities are another important factor. A city should have a variety of restaurants, bars, and other places to go out. It’s also nice if a city has a lot of parks and green spaces.

Finally, a city should be diverse. There should be a variety of cultures and religions represented. People should feel welcome to live in any part of the city. A city that meets all these criteria is a great place to live.


Pros and Cons Details

Pros of Living in Columbia

  • Livability – Columbia’s overall livability score is above average. This rating is the sum of the city’s data points and factors, and then a weighting of these variables is used to determine a good standard quality of life compared to other cities. The livability score considers education, crime, cost of living, and residents’ overall happiness calculated as a predictive index through our advanced statistical models.
  • Cost of Living – When choosing a new place to live, the cost of living is a significant consideration. The cost of living in Columbia is lower than the national average and most cities in the state. While some areas can be higher than others on a state and federal level, the overall average of housing costs, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services are less expensive.
  • Crime – See our full report on crime in Columbia, and why it is a significant pro and consideration for living here.
  • Education – See our full report on education in Columbia, and why it is a significant pro and consideration for living here.
  • Social Factors from Population Density – A study on the impact of population density on quality of life found a positive correlation between population density and a higher quality of life. In terms of physical, psychological, and social fields, higher levels of life quality scores of people living in high population density than those living in low population densities can be a better indicator of life quality in cities with higher population density.

Cons of Living in Columbia

  • Environmental Factors from Population Density – While there is a correlation between population density and a higher quality of life, it is essential to call out the environmental and stress on each individual. This is considered a con for environmental and stress, but it is a double-edged sword since there are social and economic benefits.

Population & Growth

Population

120,248

1 Year Growth

0.5%

5 Year Growth

5.3%

Who is Living in Columbia, Missouri? Demographics

The city is filled with many young adults in their 20s and early 30s. The median age in the city is about 28 years old. The typical family has on average 2.9 people including children and parents. In terms of diversity, on a national level, Columbia ranks number 6461 which is above the national average for diversity and on a state level ranks 170 which is above the state average.

 

 

Median Age:

28.2

Average Family Size:

2.93

People in Poverty %:

10.4%

Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

A city’s demographics are important for a variety of reasons. From a business standpoint, knowing the age, income, and education level of a city’s residents can help companies to decide where to locate their businesses. It can also give them insight into what type of products or services will be in demand. For government officials, demographics can play a role in everything from budgeting to planning new infrastructure projects. And for individuals, it can be helpful to know the demographics of a city before moving there, as it can give you a sense of what to expect in terms of your neighbors and the overall atmosphere of the community.

Of course, demographics can also have some drawbacks. If a city’s residents are largely of one age group or income level, it can create challenges in providing adequate services and amenities. And if a city’s demographics change rapidly, it can be difficult for residents to keep up with the changing needs of the community. Nevertheless, knowing the demographics of a city is important for both individuals and businesses alike.

Population of Male and Female Residents

Male
48.1%
Female
51.9%

How Does Gender Imbalance Impact a City?

Gender imbalance is important when evaluating a city because it impacts many social aspects. So, what kind of impact on a city does gender imbalance have? According to many studies, there is no one exact answer to this question as it depends on the city and its specific situation. However, generally speaking, a city with a more balanced male-female population would be considered more stable and prosperous.

Studies about gender imbalances have shown that when there are too many or too few men in a population, it can lead to increased crime rates and other social problems. For example, in societies with a large gender imbalance, young men may be more likely to engage in criminal activity in order to prove their masculinity. Conversely, in societies with too many women, they may be at a disadvantage when competing for jobs and other resources.

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Columbia Reviews

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Do you like RUDE drivers? Columbia is for YOU!

Rated 1.0 out of 5
December 23, 2022

I come from a big city. And, as you might guess, there are rude drivers there. But NOTHING prepared me for what I encountered in Columbia! Why, pray tell me, are Mid-westerners in this small town off of the i70 so DAMN IMPATIENT when driving??!! It’s absolutely unreal. And, mind you, I had lived in many big cities (Boston; New York; Los Angeles, and more), so I’ve seen my share of bad drivers. Plenty of them. Trust me on that. But NOTHING prepared for me for drivers here in Columbia who casually drive up on your tail, a few feet from the backside of your car, looking all impatient — AS IF THEY HAD SOMEWHERE TO GO (hint: we’re in the MIDDLE of nowhere!). On a side note, we are really in the middle of nowhere – so I suppose they have beer waiting for them at home. On another side note, Columbia has an inordinate amount of loud and boisterous alcoholics (more than many of the big cities I have lived in; you’ve been warned), so there may very well be beer waiting at home. On a side-side note, Columbia just recently passed a DUMB ASS proposition legalizing marijuana. So, adding to this deadly mixture of alcohol-fueled impatient drivers, we now have idiots riding your ass just so they can cuddle up to their marijuana bongs and beer waiting at home. But really, folks, you have to ask yourselves this one question: how does one travel from place to place in your location? And the answer is: on the streets and highways. Therefore, the moral of the story here is that YOU (yes you) will be on the STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, in and around Columbia, alongside these idiot drivers. Are you hearing me?? Let that sink in. Case in point, an 83-year old lady was killed one week ago on an intersection near us (Keene and Broadway) by what I can only assume was a drunk 33-year old man. Or, heck, the way they pour alcohol in this city it very well might have been the old lady who was driving smashed. Either way, the fatality did not surprise me. Not one bit. Let that also sink in. In fact, I’m surprised there aren’t more fatalities. But give it some time. Now that the dumb asses here in this city voted for recreational marijuana, we’re in for some more fun-fun-fun on the roads of Columbia!

Safe T. First