What percentage of people rent in Columbus, MS?

Name: Renters and owners in Columbus, MS, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

52.2% (±3.6 points) of the occupied homes in Columbus, MS are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 5,223 renting households against 4,783 that own their home.

In Columbus, the share of households that rent went from 49.8% in 2015–2019 to 52.2% in 2020–2024 (+2.4 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 52.2% (±3.6 points)
Renting households: 5,223 (±445)
Median renter income: $33,341 (±$7,855)

Who rents and who owns in Columbus

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Columbus	Lowndes County	Mississippi	United States
Renter-occupied share	52.2% (±3.6 points)	38.7% (±2.3 points)	30.0% (±0.4 points)	34.8%
Renting households	5,223 (±445)	8,908 (±594)	343,643 (±4,301)	45,017,354
Owning households	4,783 (±409)	14,098 (±557)	801,788 (±5,929)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.1 (±0.1)	2.3 (±0.1)	2.4 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.3 (±0.2)	2.5 (±0.1)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$33,341 (±$7,855)	$36,090 (±$2,736)	$34,642 (±$649)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$57,363 (±$8,834)	$69,626 (±$4,695)	$69,744 (±$684)	$100,009

In Columbus, the renter share is higher than in Lowndes County (38.7%).

It is also higher than in Mississippi (30.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Lowndes County, Columbus ranks 2 of 6 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 42 of 335.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Columbus has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	49.8% (±3.6 points)	52.2% (±3.6 points)	+2.4 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$798 (±$44)	$897 (±$49)	+12.4%	Down after inflation
Median household income	$36,336 (±$3,484)	$42,235 (±$6,142)	+16.2%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Columbus

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbus
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Columbus	—	52.2% (±3.6 points)	—
New Hope	5.1 mi	20.2% (±9.0 points)	Lower
Columbus AFB	8.5 mi	100.0% (±8.9 points)	Higher
Ethelsville	13 mi	18.5% (±24.1 points)	Lower
Caledonia	13 mi	36.9% (±11.4 points)	Lower
Artesia	15 mi	48.5% (±20.1 points)	Not measurably different
West Point	16 mi	39.1% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Crawford	19 mi	9.4% (±10.3 points)	Lower
Millport	19 mi	32.4% (±14.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: New Hope, MS (20.2%), Ethelsville, AL (18.5%), Caledonia, MS (36.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Columbus AFB, MS (100.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Lowndes County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Columbus AFB	100.0% (±8.9 points)
2	Columbus	52.2% (±3.6 points)
3	Artesia	48.5% (±20.1 points)
4	Caledonia	36.9% (±11.4 points)
5	New Hope	20.2% (±9.0 points)
6	Crawford	9.4% (±10.3 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Columbus

How many renters are there in Columbus?

Columbus has an estimated 5,223 (±445) renting households, 52.2% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Columbus?

In Columbus, the share of households that rent went from 49.8% in 2015–2019 to 52.2% in 2020–2024 (+2.4 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Columbus?

A renting household in Columbus has 2.1 people on average, against 2.3 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Columbus?

The median renting household in Columbus, MS has an income of $33,341 (±$7,855) a year, against $57,363 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Columbus city, Mississippi (place:15380, in state:28).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.