65203 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
65202
65203
Opportunity
73 · Top 15%
vs78 · Top 10%
Growth
64 · Top 26%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 28%
vs78 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 13%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
30 · Bottom 23%
vs58 · Top 42%
Access
9 · Bottom 1%
vs7 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
65 · Top 40%
vs67 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | 65202 | 65203 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,327 | 61,539 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,289 | $79,960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,071 | $51,848 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 335/sq mi | 824/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,900 | $348,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,128 | $1,077 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.2% | 62.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.5% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.1% | 64.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 700 | 700 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.4 | 5.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -25.7% | -25.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.4" | 41.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 105 mi | 110 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 19.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.4 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.45 | 14.81 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 17.4% | 38.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.0% | 51.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 60.8% | 29.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
65202
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
65203
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 65202 — Columbia, MO · 65203 — Columbia, MO · How this is calculated: methodology