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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Columbia, AL Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q2 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Columbia, AL Housing Market Trends

With 701 people, 302 houses or apartments, and a median cost of homes of $149,194, house prices in Columbia are solidly below the national average.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Columbia, accounting for 74.50% of the town's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Columbia include mobile homes or trailers ( 17.56%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 4.82%).

Owner-occupied, three and four bedroom dwellings, primarily in single-family detached homes are the most prevalent type of housing you will see in Columbia. Owner-occupied housing accounts for 79.80% of Columbia's homes, and 66.57% have either three or four bedrooms, which is average sized relative to America.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Columbia's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 37.96% of the town's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Columbia include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 31.16%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 19.83%). There's also some housing in Columbia built before 1939 ( 11.05%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in Columbia. Fully 14.45% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant Columbia homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding Columbia real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

Columbia Home Appreciation Rates

Columbia's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in Columbia during the period has been just 5.18%, which is lower than 80% of US communities.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Columbia that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Columbia real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Columbia appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 9.93%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 87.03% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Columbia. Columbia appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 7.06%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 31.40%.

Importantly, this makes Columbia one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter, and may signal the town's near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to Alabama, our data show that Columbia's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 90% of the other cities and towns in Alabama.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$149,194

Columbia, AL Home Prices
> $1,235,000
$926,001 - $1,235,000
$618,001 - $926,000
$494,001 - $618,000
$370,001 - $494,000
$247,001 - $370,000
$124,001 - $247,000
$62,001 - $124,000
$0 - $62,000
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
1.1%
1.1%
0.3%
0.3%
5.0%
5.0%
22.3%
22.3%
27.0%
27.0%
26.0%
26.0%
18.3%
18.3%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Low

for Alabama

Very Low

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

302

Columbia Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,421 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
79.8%
79.8%
20.2%
20.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
14.4%
14.4%
85.6%
85.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
19.8%
19.8%
31.2%
31.2%
38.0%
38.0%
11.0%
11.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
74.5%
74.5%
0.0%
0.0%
4.8%
4.8%
0.0%
0.0%
17.6%
17.6%
3.1%
3.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
0.0%
0.0%
6.2%
6.2%
22.1%
22.1%
54.7%
54.7%
11.9%
11.9%
5.1%
5.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Popular Neighborhoods in Columbia

Popular Communities Near Columbia, AL

Zip Codes in Columbia, AL