In Columbia, a typical home is worth $284,600 and typical rent is $1,097 a month. Compared with all of Boone County, typical household income is 9% lower and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $249,323 to $321,671.
Typical rent
$1,464a month
▲ 5.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,001 to $1,464.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Columbia is in Boone County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Boone County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Mexico, the typical home value is $139,800: 51% less than in Columbia ($284,600).
2
Nearby, in Mexico, the typical rent is $686: 37% less than in Columbia ($1,097).
3
49% of households in Columbia own their home, against 58% in Boone County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Columbia
What homes there are in Columbia, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Kind of home: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Detached house
53%
61%
71%
61%
Attached house
6%
6%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
11%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
27%
19%
13%
19%
Mobile home
2%
4%
5%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Columbia, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Boone County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Year built: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Before 1960
11%
11%
27%
26%
1960–1979
20%
23%
25%
24%
1980–1999
29%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
20%
18%
13%
14%
2010 or later
19%
18%
10%
11%
By age, homes in Columbia look like those in Boone County: the typical year built is 1993.
There are fewer big homes in Columbia than in Boone County: 62% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K7%
$100K–$200K20%
$200K–$300K28%
$300K–$500K32%
$500K–$750K11%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1M2%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Under $100K
7%
$100K–$200K
20%
$200K–$300K
28%
$300K–$500K
32%
$500K–$750K
11%
$750K–$1M
2%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Boone County is $541,287, and about 88% of owner-occupied homes in Columbia are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5004%
$500–$99935%
$1,000–$1,49942%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,076
$1,500–$1,99910%
$2,000–$2,4996%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or more1%
Monthly rent with utilities: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Under $500
4%
$500–$999
35%
$1,000–$1,499
42%
$1,500–$1,999
10%
$2,000–$2,499
6%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
1%
About 46% of rented homes in Columbia cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Boone County ($1,076); the rest cost more.
With a mortgage
$1,704 a month
Boone County: $1,624 a month
Without a mortgage
$601 a month
Boone County: $585 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Boone County: 63%
Owning costs about the same in Columbia as in Boone County: with a mortgage, $1,704 a month; without one, $601.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Columbia+48%
Boone County+47%
Missouri+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Columbia+24%
Boone County+24%
Missouri+25%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Columbia+30%
Boone County+32%
Missouri+28%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Typical home value
+48%
+47%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+24%
+24%
+25%
+33%
Typical household income
+30%
+32%
+28%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Columbia rose at about the same pace as in Boone County: 48% against 47%.
Rents in Columbia rose at about the same pace as in Boone County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 24%.
While home values in Columbia changed +48% and rent +24%, the typical household income rose 30%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Columbia and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
United States
Rental vacancy
4.8%
4.7%
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
1.8%
1.1%
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
1.5%
1.6%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.26
2.33
2.40
2.53
Drive alone
74%
75%
75%
69%
Carpool
8%
9%
8%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
6%
5%
2%
3%
Work from home
10%
10%
13%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Columbia, the rental vacancy rate is 4.8%, about the same as in Boone County.
More than one person per room: that is how 1.5% of households in Columbia live, near the figure in Boone County (1.6%).
A household in Columbia has 2.26 people on average, about the same as in Boone County (2.33).
To get to work, 74% of workers in Columbia drive alone; in Boone County, 75%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Columbia?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Columbia, worth $284,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Columbia, which is $66,498 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $100,756 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Boone County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Columbia. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $9,961 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,351
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$279,445
Total interest
$402,056
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,806 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,552 a month
Tight
$1,552 to $1,995 a month
Hard
more than $1,995 a month
Your payment · 42%
Compared with the typical household income in Columbia ($66,498 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,893
Property tax
$213
Home insurance
$119
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$126
You need at least $9,961 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,351; principal and interest $1,893.
The city and its county
Columbia and Boone County
Columbia is in Boone County, Missouri. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Columbia
Map of Boone County, Missouri, with Columbia marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Columbia
Boone County
Other cities with a page
Columbia's own numbers
Typical home value
$284,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,097
Typical yearly household income
$66,498
Households that own their home
49%
Effective property tax rate
0.9%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Boone County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,076
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Boone County.
A typical home in Columbia is worth $284,600: 4% above the county and 24% above Missouri. With the typical household income in Columbia ($66,498 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Columbia4.3 years
Boone3.7 years
Missouri3.3 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Boone County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Boone County rose 84% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Boone County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Boone County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.8% +3.8% 2016
2017: +2.8% +2.8% 2017
2018: +3.0% +3.0% 2018
2019: +3.6% +3.6% 2019
2020: +3.3% +3.3% 2020
2021: +11.1% +11.1% 2021
2022: +15.4% +15.4% 2022
2023: +8.6% +8.6% 2023
2024: +7.9% +7.9% 2024
2025: +3.8% +3.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Boone County, Missouri and the United States
Period
County
Missouri
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.8%
+3.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+56%
+51%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+84%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Columbia next to Boone County, Missouri and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Columbia$284,600
Boone$272,800
Missouri$230,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Columbia$1,097
Boone$1,088
Missouri$1,033
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Columbia$66,498
Boone$72,758
Missouri$70,702
United States$80,734
See the full table
Columbia next to Boone County and Missouri
Measure
Columbia
Boone County
Missouri
U.S.
Typical home value
$284,600 ▲4% above the county
$272,800
$230,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,097
$1,088
$1,033
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$66,498 ▼9% below the county
$72,758
$70,702
$80,734
Households that own their home
49% ▼9 points below the county
58%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,550 ▲10% above the county
$2,328
$1,948
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.9% ▲0.05 points above the county
0.85%
0.85%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
51% ▲2 points above the county
49%
46%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Boone County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbia
For a typical $284,600 home in Columbia, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Columbia's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,351a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,961
Cash to close
$18,499
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $126
Conventional, 5% down$2,299a month
Down payment
$14,230
Cash to close
$22,768
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $135
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,874a month
Down payment
$56,920
Cash to close
$65,458
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,138a month
Down payment
$42,690
Cash to close
$51,228
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbia
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,351
$9,961
$279,445
7.18%
FHA MIP · $126
$18,499
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,299
$14,230
$270,370
7.18%
PMI · $135
$22,768
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,874
$56,920
$227,680
7.18%
None
$65,458
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,138
$42,690
$241,910
8.18%
None
$51,228
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Columbia and for Boone County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Columbia
0.9%of the home’s value each year
$2,550 a year for the typical owner in Columbia.
Columbia0.9%
Boone0.85%
Missouri0.85%
What Missouri publishesDeadline to appeal the assessment to the county board of equalization (Missouri Revisor of Statutes (Revised Statutes of Missouri))
Typical rent in Columbia is $1,097 a month: about the same as the county. In Columbia, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Boone County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,076 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.69 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Boone County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$749
$14.40
$29,960
1 bedroom
$959
$18.44
$38,360
2 bedrooms
$1,076
$20.69
$43,040
3 bedrooms
$1,459
$28.06
$58,360
4 bedrooms
$1,676
$32.23
$67,040
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Columbia
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Columbia has 5 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,100 in 65201 to $1,130 in 65203.
5 of the 5 are above the fair market rent for Boone County ($1,076).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 5 ZIP codes of Columbia, beside the one for Boone County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,100 in 65201 to $1,130 in 65203. 5 of the 5 are above the fair market rent for Boone County ($1,076).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,076
Lowest: $1,100 (65201)Highest: $1,130 (65203)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Columbia, fiscal year 2027.
65201
$770
$980
$1,100
$1,490
$1,710
65202
$770
$990
$1,110
$1,510
$1,730
65203
$790
$1,010
$1,130
$1,530
$1,760
65215
$770
$980
$1,100
$1,490
$1,710
65216
$770
$980
$1,100
$1,490
$1,710
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
65201 $1,100$1,490
65202 $1,110$1,510
65203 $1,130$1,530
65215 $1,100$1,490
65216 $1,100$1,490
3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Columbia when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 31 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Columbia. These are the largest.
Stuart Parker Apartments With Paquin Tow200 Unity Dr, Columbia 65203284 low-income homes · Studio: 141 · 1 bd: 89 · 2 bd: 38 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2017 · For older adults
Oak Towers700 N Garth Ave, Columbia 65203147 low-income homes · Studio: 77 · 1 bd: 70 · In service since 2018 · For older adults
Columbia Square Apts1016 Claudell Ln, Columbia 65203128 low-income homes · 2 bd: 64 · 3 bd: 64 · In service since 2003
Columbia Square Apartments1801 W Worley St, Columbia 65203128 homes, 121 low-income · For families(573) 445-1721
Lakewood Apts206 Old 63 N, Columbia 65201100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 36 · 2 bd: 52 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2005 · For families
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Boone County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Columbia or Boone County. The ones below are statewide in Missouri: they work in Columbia the same as in the rest of the state.
Missouri state commission mortgage for first-time buyers and veterans, with the option of cash assistance for the down payment and closing costs.Offered by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).
Missouri state commission mortgage for buyers who earn more than First Place allows, with a second loan of 4% of the mortgage for the down payment and closing costs that is forgiven after ten years.Offered by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).
No legal help resource on our list is for Columbia or Boone County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Columbia and all of Boone County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Columbia?
The typical home value in Columbia is $284,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Boone County it is $272,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Columbia?
Typical rent in Columbia is $1,097 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Boone County is $1,076.
What is the FHA loan limit in Columbia?
Columbia uses the FHA limit for all of Boone County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Columbia?
The typical homeowner in Columbia pays $2,550 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.9% of the home’s value; in Boone County, the rate is 0.85%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Columbia?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Boone County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
