Metro area profile · Georgia
Columbus, GA-AL metro area market data
How the Columbus metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 324,830
- −1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 127,512
- Median household income
- $59,336
- +24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $197,300
- Jobs located here
- 110,573
- Highest market score
- 62
- Chiropractors, #94 of 386 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Columbus metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Columbus metro area has an estimated 324,830 people and 127,512 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Columbus metro area declined 1.3%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Columbus metro area is $59,336, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Columbus metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
Of the business types scored in the Columbus metro area, chiropractors (62), pet stores (60) and HVAC and plumbing companies (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For chiropractors, that ranks #94 of 386 scored metro areas.
The Columbus metro area takes in 7 counties: Muscogee County, GA; Russell County, AL; Harris County, GA; Chattahoochee County, GA; and 3 more. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (61% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for chiropractors (57% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Columbus metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Columbus metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiropractors | 62 | #94 of 386 | 29 | 2.3 | $4.4M | 185 | 14 |
| Pet stores | 60 | #120 of 382 | 18 | 1.4 | $5.6M | 124 | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 59 | #120 of 387 | 56 | 4.4 | $5.9M | 124 | 75 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 57 | #130 of 387 | 84 | 6.6 | $5.1M | 137 | 45 |
| Home repair trades | 57 | #132 of 387 | 124 | 9.7 | $2.7M | 110 | 129 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #136 of 387 | 74 | 5.8 | $5.8M | 139 | 53 |
| Pest control | 56 | #130 of 345 | 16 | 1.3 | $10.7M | 105 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 56 | #151 of 387 | 202 | 15.8 | $1.5M | 116 | 100 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 55 | #154 of 387 | 106 | 8.3 | $1.6M | 96 | 152 |
| House cleaning | 53 | #149 of 375 | 22 | 1.7 | $7.8M | 121 | 68 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 53 | #166 of 385 | 68 | 5.3 | $2.5M | 86 | 75 |
| Electricians | 53 | #172 of 383 | 27 | 2.1 | $12.2M | 102 | 40 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 51 | #189 of 386 | 36 | 2.8 | $2.8M | 110 | 21 |
| Pet businesses | 50 | #195 of 387 | 118 | 9.3 | $853K | 97 | 56 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 49 | #171 of 347 | 14 | 1.1 | $5.5M | 136 | 30 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 48 | #161 of 290 | 7 | 0.5 | $15.1M | 110 | 7 |
| Laundromats | 48 | #186 of 364 | 14 | 1.1 | $15.6M | 124 | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | 48 | #209 of 381 | 41 | 3.2 | $8.1M | 95 | 14 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 48 | #217 of 386 | 39 | 3.1 | $3.3M | 105 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #213 of 387 | 121 | 9.5 | $1.1M | 108 | 77 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #238 of 386 | 49 | 3.8 | $2.6M | 109 | 39 |
| Real estate | 39 | #285 of 387 | 347 | 27.2 | Index only | 118 | 217 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 39 | #290 of 387 | 257 | 20.2 | Index only | 127 | 127 |
| Veterinarians | 38 | #272 of 384 | 43 | 3.4 | $2.3M | 86 | 30 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 38 | #300 of 387 | 42 | 3.3 | $1.8M | 92 | 22 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 37 | #299 of 387 | 801 | 62.8 | $161K | 105 | 407 |
| Funeral homes | 35 | #280 of 377 | 28 | 2.2 | $574K | 85 | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 35 | #315 of 373 | 50 | 3.9 | Index only | 91 | 13 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #312 of 387 | 283 | 22.2 | $375K | 84 | 99 |
| Child care and preschools | 33 | #306 of 387 | 54 | 4.2 | $910K | 91 | 77 |
| Auto repair and car care | 33 | #316 of 387 | 476 | 37.3 | $223K | 83 | 153 |
| Spas and skin care | 33 | #348 of 387 | 118 | 9.3 | $869K | 99 | 22 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 32 | #344 of 387 | 144 | 11.3 | $538K | 81 | 52 |
| Car washes and detailing | 30 | #341 of 387 | 53 | 4.2 | $2M | 79 | 17 |
| Property management | 30 | #343 of 374 | 36 | 2.8 | Index only | 89 | 63 |
| Gyms | 28 | #360 of 387 | 88 | 6.9 | $881K | 68 | 30 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 24 | #367 of 387 | 793 | 62.2 | $539K | 81 | 205 |
| Dry cleaners | 22 | #257 of 272 | 19 | 1.5 | $11.5M | 73 | 11 |
| Gas stations | 22 | #356 of 387 | 200 | 15.7 | $1.7M | 72 | 151 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 21 | #369 of 387 | 1,273 | 99.8 | $336K | 91 | 586 |
| Nail salons | 21 | #374 of 387 | 83 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 74 | 24 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 20 | #190 of 197 | 7 | 0.5 | $18.4M | 75 | 15 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 20 | #356 of 387 | 298 | 23.4 | $731K | 83 | 132 |
| Grocery stores | 20 | #365 of 387 | 87 | 6.8 | $8.2M | 89 | 56 |
| Barbershops | 20 | #373 of 387 | 109 | 8.5 | $940K | 50 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 20 | #383 of 387 | 344 | 27.0 | $298K | 69 | 62 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 20 | #385 of 387 | 668 | 52.4 | $153K | 72 | 117 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 19 | #361 of 387 | 223 | 17.5 | $977K | 77 | 115 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 19 | #364 of 381 | 52 | 4.1 | $2M | 66 | 32 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 17 | #371 of 387 | 244 | 19.1 | $2.9M | 87 | 135 |
| Convenience stores | 17 | #371 of 387 | 115 | 9.0 | $6.2M | 79 | 79 |
| Pizza | 15 | #376 of 387 | 104 | 8.2 | $4.1M | 81 | 328 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 13 | #382 of 387 | 113 | 8.9 | $1.1M | 64 | 251 |
| Tire shops | 12 | #378 of 386 | 78 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 54 | 27 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 9 | #382 of 387 | 208 | 16.3 | $2.1M | 67 | 328 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.3 | Index only | 169 | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Columbus metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $106M | $831 | 87 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $344.6M | $2,703 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $427.6M | $3,354 | 82 |
| Groceries | $715.7M | $5,613 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $102.5M | $804 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $49.1M | $385 | 66 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $77.5M | $608 | 62 |
| Medical and dental services | $128.7M | $1,009 | 78 |
| Pets | $100.6M | $789 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $217.8M | $1,708 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $294.5M | $2,310 | 118 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $330.5M | $2,592 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $171M | $1,341 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.8B | $13,918 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Columbus metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 324,830−1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 127,512
- Median age
- 37.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 58%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 2,786 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 117
- Median household income
- $59,336+24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,434
- Median home value
- $197,300
- Jobs located here
- 110,573
- Daytime population
- 319,730Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Columbus metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Columbus metro area 7
- Muscogee County, GA203,711 people
- Russell County, AL58,811 people
- Harris County, GA36,086 people
- Chattahoochee County, GA8,887 people
- Marion County, GA7,509 people
- Talbot County, GA5,742 people
- Stewart County, GA4,869 people
Other markets based in Georgia 12
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area6,256,377 people
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area624,181 people
- Savannah, GA metro area418,285 people
- Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area234,943 people
- Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area220,197 people
- Gainesville, GA metro area212,705 people
- Warner Robins, GA metro area198,209 people
- Valdosta, GA metro area150,188 people
- Albany, GA metro area146,018 people
- Dalton, GA metro area144,160 people
- Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro area115,074 people
- Rome, GA metro area99,693 people
Questions
How fast is the Columbus, GA-AL metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Columbus metro area at 324,830 people in 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 127,512 households. Median household income rose 24.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area spend?
Households in the Columbus metro area spend about $1.8B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $715.7M on groceries and $427.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Columbus metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Columbus metro area are for chiropractors (62), pet stores (60) and HVAC and plumbing companies (59). The Columbus metro area ranks #94 of 386 scored metro areas for chiropractors.
How does the Columbus, GA-AL metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Columbus metro area is $59,336 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $197,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Columbus metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (61% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for chiropractors (57% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the Columbus metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Columbus metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Georgia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Columbus metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.