County profile · North Carolina
Columbus County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Columbus County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 50,487
- 0.0% since 2020
- Households
- 20,048
- Median household income
- $49,442
- +31.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $146,000
- Jobs located here
- 15,101
- Highest market score
- 70
- Insurance agencies, #460 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Columbus County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Columbus County. 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
An estimated 50,487 people live in Columbus County, in 20,048 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Columbus County held about level, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Columbus County is $49,442 a year, 39% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Columbus County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (50).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Columbus County are for insurance agencies (70); real estate agents and brokers (65); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63). Columbus County ranks #460 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, Columbus County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (82% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Columbus County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Columbus County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 70 | #460 of 2,272 | 23 | 11.5 | $2.4M | 188 | 16 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 65 | #342 of 2,176 | 11 | 5.5 | Index only | 432 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 63 | #383 of 1,771 | 9 | 4.5 | $2.7M | 163 | 21 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #549 of 1,886 | 8 | 4.0 | $2.3M | 235 | 10 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #647 of 2,200 | 13 | 6.5 | $1.1M | 125 | 8 |
| Real estate | 59 | #593 of 2,229 | 18 | 9.0 | Index only | 332 | 16 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 58 | #524 of 1,461 | 5 | 2.5 | $2.9M | 112 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #749 of 2,063 | 6 | 3.0 | $10.1M | 272 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 53 | #788 of 1,792 | 7 | 3.5 | $1.4M | 109 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 52 | #682 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.5 | $2.9M | 105 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 48 | #1,107 of 2,057 | 18 | 9.0 | $2.6M | 107 | 27 |
| Car washes and detailing | 45 | #846 of 1,451 | 8 | 4.0 | $2.4M | 95 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 45 | #1,018 of 1,707 | 10 | 5.0 | $4.7M | 99 | 15 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 43 | #832 of 1,302 | 5 | 2.5 | $3.7M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #1,663 of 2,394 | 98 | 48.9 | $189K | 124 | 36 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 39 | #1,552 of 2,210 | 40 | 20.0 | $782K | 89 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #1,642 of 2,358 | 48 | 23.9 | $1.3M | 55 | 28 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 36 | #981 of 1,327 | 8 | 4.0 | $2.4M | 78 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 36 | #1,545 of 2,087 | 33 | 16.5 | $948K | 75 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 36 | #1,824 of 2,401 | 103 | 51.4 | $186K | 69 | 24 |
| House cleaning | 35 | #685 of 847 | 6 | 3.0 | $4.1M | 64 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 35 | #1,278 of 1,656 | 15 | 7.5 | $1.2M | 69 | 15 |
| Spas and skin care | 35 | #1,406 of 1,769 | 13 | 6.5 | $1.1M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #1,832 of 2,405 | 96 | 47.9 | $629K | 95 | 29 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 35 | #1,973 of 2,385 | 95 | 47.4 | $154K | 72 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #1,670 of 2,088 | 18 | 9.0 | $551K | 83 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 34 | #1,862 of 2,405 | 168 | 83.8 | $360K | 97 | 80 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #1,895 of 2,378 | 64 | 31.9 | $299K | 67 | 18 |
| Funeral homes | 31 | #1,196 of 1,472 | 12 | 6.0 | $264K | 39 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 30 | #1,203 of 1,422 | 9 | 4.5 | $2.1M | 86 | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 29 | #1,163 of 1,334 | 9 | 4.5 | $1.1M | 55 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 29 | #1,636 of 1,889 | 15 | 7.5 | $4M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 28 | #1,160 of 1,328 | 9 | 4.5 | $1.6M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 28 | #1,858 of 2,261 | 28 | 14.0 | $3.8M | 48 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 23 | #1,365 of 1,530 | 20 | 10.0 | $956K | 38 | 5 |
| Pizza | 22 | #1,968 of 2,090 | 17 | 8.5 | $3.6M | 70 | 50 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 19 | #2,231 of 2,402 | 58 | 28.9 | $1.8M | 54 | 20 |
| Barbershops | 16 | #1,260 of 1,356 | 12 | 6.0 | $1.2M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 15 | #1,547 of 1,611 | 15 | 7.5 | $421K | 42 | 16 |
| Grocery stores | 14 | #1,973 of 2,070 | 25 | 12.5 | $4.2M | 46 | 14 |
| Hair salons | 12 | #2,298 of 2,339 | 59 | 29.4 | $248K | 58 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 11 | #2,183 of 2,222 | 41 | 20.5 | $1.5M | 48 | 50 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | $11.7M | 98 | 12 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | Index only | 166 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | $11.7M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $6.2M | 258 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $8.2M | 279 | 11 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $15.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $15.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | 9 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $5M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Columbus County
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 | $19.1M | $954 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $63.5M | $3,168 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $60.4M | $3,014 | 74 |
| Groceries | $106.1M | $5,294 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.6M | $729 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.3M | $315 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.9M | $495 | 50 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.5M | $924 | 72 |
| Pets | $14.3M | $711 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $31.3M | $1,560 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $54.3M | $2,709 | 138 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $46.9M | $2,339 | 77 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24.6M | $1,225 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $259M | $12,919 | 78 |
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 Columbus County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 50,4870.0% since 2020
- Households
- 20,048
- Median age
- 43.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 938 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 53
- Median household income
- $49,442+31.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $67,260
- Median home value
- $146,000
- Jobs located here
- 15,101
- Daytime population
- 42,846Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Columbus County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Columbus County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Bladen County, NC29,566 people
- Brunswick County, NC152,568 people
- Robeson County, NC116,902 people
- New Hanover County, NC235,229 people
- Pender County, NC65,550 people
- Sampson County, NC59,470 people
- Cumberland County, NC338,545 people
- Hoke County, NC53,835 people
Questions
How fast is Columbus County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Columbus County at 50,487 people in 2025, unchanged since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 20,048 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in Columbus County, NC spend?
Households in Columbus County spend about $259M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $106.1M on groceries and $63.5M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Columbus County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (50).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Columbus County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Columbus County, insurance agencies (70); real estate agents and brokers (65); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #460 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Columbus County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Columbus County is $49,442, 39% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population held level from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $146,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (82% 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. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in Columbus County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Columbus County. 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 North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Columbus County?
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 Columbus County. 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.