Small-town market profile · Mississippi
Columbus, MS area market data
How the Columbus area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 67,144
- −2.7% since 2020
- Households
- 26,952
- Median household income
- $51,117
- Median home value
- $150,900
- Jobs located here
- 26,423
- Highest market score
- 71
- Landscaping and lawn care, #53 of 399 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Columbus area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Columbus 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 area has an estimated 67,144 people and 26,952 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Columbus area from 2020 to 2025 at −2.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Columbus area is $51,117, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Columbus area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Of the business types scored in the Columbus area, landscaping and lawn care companies (71); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63); and veterinarians (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For landscaping and lawn care companies, that ranks #53 of 399 scored small-town markets.
The Columbus area takes in 2 counties: Lowndes County and Noxubee County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for pet businesses (54% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Columbus area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Columbus area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and lawn care | 71 | #53 of 399 | 5 | 1.9 | $6.8M | 231 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 63 | #111 of 481 | 11 | 4.1 | $3.1M | 183 | 28 |
| Veterinarians | 61 | #116 of 398 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.3M | 120 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #127 of 426 | 6 | 2.2 | $4.3M | 178 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #141 of 527 | 13 | 4.8 | $1.5M | 172 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 52 | #245 of 537 | 42 | 15.6 | $1.6M | 127 | 27 |
| Electricians | 50 | #155 of 295 | 6 | 2.2 | $10.8M | 90 | 13 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #276 of 476 | 16 | 5.9 | $4.1M | 85 | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 43 | #118 of 177 | 6 | 2.2 | Index only | 152 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #343 of 526 | 29 | 10.8 | $2.2M | 92 | 32 |
| Roofing and gutters | 42 | #187 of 288 | 7 | 2.6 | $9.3M | 110 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 42 | #252 of 387 | 8 | 3.0 | $3M | 96 | 8 |
| Pizza | 41 | #339 of 520 | 14 | 5.2 | $6M | 118 | 57 |
| Tire shops | 39 | #303 of 431 | 14 | 5.2 | $1.7M | 67 | 4 |
| Real estate | 37 | #425 of 536 | 52 | 19.3 | Index only | 158 | 31 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #384 of 506 | 22 | 8.2 | $6.6M | 71 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #438 of 533 | 42 | 15.6 | Index only | 155 | 19 |
| Auto repair shops | 35 | #418 of 538 | 55 | 20.4 | $430K | 97 | 36 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 34 | #414 of 507 | 18 | 6.7 | $4.7M | 112 | 17 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 34 | #439 of 529 | 20 | 7.4 | $4.2M | 113 | 17 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #295 of 365 | 12 | 4.5 | $303K | 45 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 33 | #441 of 538 | 148 | 54.9 | $566K | 85 | 40 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #358 of 441 | 11 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 32 | #435 of 538 | 103 | 38.2 | $229K | 85 | 46 |
| Spas and skin care | 31 | #438 of 504 | 26 | 9.6 | $775K | 89 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 28 | #473 of 536 | 60 | 22.3 | $1.3M | 55 | 43 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 27 | #476 of 538 | 257 | 95.4 | $326K | 88 | 116 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 23 | #353 of 378 | 11 | 4.1 | $1.3M | 64 | 5 |
| Physical therapy | 23 | #369 of 400 | 16 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 66 | 9 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 23 | #420 of 458 | 20 | 7.4 | $1.3M | 72 | 37 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 18 | #502 of 538 | 72 | 26.7 | $2M | 59 | 25 |
| Convenience stores | 17 | #496 of 529 | 35 | 13.0 | $4.1M | 52 | 17 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 15 | #527 of 538 | 204 | 75.7 | $125K | 82 | 90 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 15 | #531 of 538 | 135 | 50.1 | $149K | 70 | 20 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 14 | #516 of 537 | 48 | 17.8 | $1.7M | 57 | 57 |
| Hair salons | 14 | #528 of 538 | 70 | 26.0 | $288K | 67 | 15 |
| Gyms | 13 | #492 of 506 | 25 | 9.3 | $568K | 44 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 13 | #527 of 536 | 86 | 31.9 | $502K | 57 | 28 |
| Child care and preschools | 12 | #444 of 454 | 29 | 10.8 | $316K | 32 | 27 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 12 | #530 of 536 | 72 | 26.7 | $599K | 47 | 28 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 11 | #523 of 526 | 33 | 12.2 | $773K | 79 | 25 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 11 | #526 of 535 | 40 | 14.8 | $355K | 54 | 14 |
| Barbershops | 10 | #362 of 377 | 20 | 7.4 | $1M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 10 | #379 of 387 | 19 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 10 | #395 of 400 | 16 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 51 | 9 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $10.8M | 69 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $8.5M | 132 | 13 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $10.8M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $4.9M | 193 | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $3.6M | 87 | 9 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $7.9M | 57 | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | Index only | 213 | 9 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $16.9M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $19.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $25.5M | Too few | 6 |
Household spending in the Columbus 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 | $23.6M | $877 | 92 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $78.3M | $2,907 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $83.8M | $3,109 | 76 |
| Groceries | $144.7M | $5,368 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $20.2M | $748 | 74 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9.2M | $340 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $14.2M | $527 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.5M | $947 | 73 |
| Pets | $19.6M | $729 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $43.2M | $1,601 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $66.8M | $2,479 | 127 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $64.9M | $2,407 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $33.8M | $1,255 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $355M | $13,173 | 79 |
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 area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 67,144−2.7% since 2020
- Households
- 26,952
- Median age
- 39.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 63%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,201 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 56
- Median household income
- $51,117
- Average household income
- $70,782
- Median home value
- $150,900
- Jobs located here
- 26,423
- Daytime population
- 68,077Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Columbus area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 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 area 2
- Lowndes County, MS57,838 people
- Noxubee County, MS10,025 people
Other markets based in Mississippi 12
- Jackson, MS metro area611,324 people
- Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area421,201 people
- Hattiesburg, MS metro area155,434 people
- Tupelo, MS area132,254 people
- Meridian, MS area86,818 people
- Laurel, MS area82,531 people
- Oxford, MS area70,746 people
- Starkville, MS area61,743 people
- Picayune, MS area57,458 people
- Natchez, MS-LA area54,045 people
- McComb, MS area53,441 people
- Vicksburg, MS area43,020 people
Questions
How fast is the Columbus, MS area growing?
Population estimates put the Columbus area at 67,144 people in 2025, down 2.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 26,952 households.
How much do households in the Columbus, MS area spend?
Households in the Columbus area spend about $355M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $144.7M on groceries and $83.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Columbus area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Columbus, MS area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Columbus area are for landscaping and lawn care companies (71); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63); and veterinarians (61). The Columbus area ranks #53 of 399 scored small-town markets for landscaping and lawn care companies.
How does the Columbus, MS area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Columbus area is $51,117 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $150,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Columbus area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pet businesses (54% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 45 of the 56 business types have a score in the Columbus area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Columbus 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 Mississippi · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Columbus 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 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.