Columbia is a somewhat small city located in the state of Illinois. With a population of 10,970 people and three associated neighborhoods, Columbia is the 208th largest community in Illinois. Much of the housing stock in Columbia was built relatively recently. The construction of new real estate can often be taken as an indication that the local Columbia economy is robust, and that jobs or other amenities are attracting an influx of new residents. This seems to be the case in Columbia, where the median household income is $106,603.00.

Columbia real estate is some of the most expensive in Illinois, although Columbia house values don't compare to the most expensive real estate in the U.S.

Also of interest is that Columbia has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.

Telecommuters are a relatively large percentage of the workforce: 9.82% of people work from home. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce it is high relative to the nation. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Columbia is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The city’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Columbia’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

As is often the case in a small city, Columbia doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.

If knowledge is power, Columbia is a pretty powerful place. 51.10% of the adults in Columbia have earned a 4-year college degree, masters degree, MD, law degree, or even PhD. Compare that to the national average of 21.84% for all cities and towns.

The per capita income in Columbia in 2022 was $50,918, which is wealthy relative to Illinois and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $203,672 for a family of four.

The people who call Columbia home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Columbia residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Columbia include German, English, Irish, Italian, and French.

The most common language spoken in Columbia is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and German/Yiddish.