Columbia, PA

This borough of 10,355 residents needs 501 more housing units over the next five years. Columbia is part of the Lancaster County MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
10,355 (2026)
Households
4,599
Median household income
$61,796 (2026)
Typical home value
$293,844
Owner-occupied
49%
Five-year housing need
501 units

Comparison to other Pennsylvania municipalities

Columbia: $61,796 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$29K >$153K
Columbia: 0.53 jobs to household ratio
<0.03 >2.09
Columbia: Permits since 2021 represent 3.0% of housing
<0% >5.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in Columbia, PA costs $293,844, somewhat above the Pennsylvania average of $231,760. At a median household income of $61,796 in Columbia, PA, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $15,893 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Columbia, PA has a population of roughly 10,278 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Columbia, PA has roughly 4,599 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Columbia, PA is relatively mixed, with attached single-family and 2-4 unit multifamily as the most common type at 48%. Columbia, PA is roughly split between owners and renters, at 49% owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Columbia, PA needs 501 new units over the next 5 years.

284
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
6.2%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 4,599 in 2026 to 4,883 in 2031.
217
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
27
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.1 per 1,000 units.
172
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
18
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.38%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
501
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
100
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
10.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.0%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?