We compared COMO to the same cities from
10 years ago. How did we measure up this time?
Ten years ago, the COMO Business Times team, led by then-editor Brenna McDermott, put an intriguing focus on Columbia’s growth and development by asking: How do we measure up,
what can we improve, and what are our strengths as a city? CBT compared the numbers
between Columbia and other college towns with similar populations and demographics.
That team selected Waco, Texas (Baylor University), Gainesville, Florida (University of Florida),
and Fort Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University). The 2026 CBT team decided to use
those same cities and the same data to make an up-to-date comparison.
What are some of the significant changes for Columbia’s numbers? Well, if you remember paying
only $1.85 for a gallon of gas, you’re probably thinking about 2016 as “the good old days.”
A gallon of gas at most fill-up spots in Columbia in July 2026 was $3.79. Cha-ching!
Columbia’s 2016 unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, compared to 4.2 percent today.
Median gross rent increased from $804 in 2016 to just under $1,100 today. And our population increase, since the 2014 census, is an estimated 13,900, or 11.9 percent growth. Compared to the
other cities we focused on: Waco’s population has increased 13.5 percent, Gainesville’s went up
15.7 percent, and Fort Collins has taken off with 19 percent population growth.
Population
census.gov
Estimated: 130,851
as of July 1, 2025
Census: 126,254
as of April 1, 2020
Race Breakdown
census.gov
- White: 73.2%
- Black: 12.2%
- American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.1%
- Asian: 6.4%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
- Two or More Races: 6.9%
- Hispanic or Latino: 4.4%
- White Alone (not Hispanic or Latino): 71.7%
Median Age: 30.4
censusreporter.org
High School & College Graduation Statistics
census.gov
- High School Graduate
or Higher (25+): 95.7% - Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher (25+): 56.7%
Population of College Students
- University of Missouri: 32,105
missouri.edu - Stephens College: 568
collegeiq.com - Columbia College: 5,633
usnews.com
Unemployment: 4.2%
June 2026; bls.gov
Major Industries
occsi.com
- Healthcare
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Technology
Largest Employers
como.gov
- University of Missouri
- MU Health Care
- Boone Health
- Veterans Home Loans
- Shelter Insurance
Cost of Living
bestplaces.net
- Grocery: 98.3
- Housing: 78.7
- Utilities: 97.2
Gallon of Gas: $3.79
July 2026; gasbuddy.com
Median Gross Rent: $1,097
census.gov
Median Household Income: $66,498
census.gov
Persons in Poverty: 19.3%
census.gov
Crime Index
Safer than 9% of cities in the United States
neighborhoodscout.com
Population
census.gov
Estimated: 171,500
as of July 1, 2025
Census: 169,810
as of April 1, 2020
Race Breakdown
census.gov
- White: 80.4%
- Black: 1.4%
- American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.6%
- Asian: 3.4%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
- Two or More Races: 11.6%
- Hispanic or Latino: 12.8%
- White Alone (not Hispanic or Latino): 77.3%
Median Age: 31.8
censusreporter.org
High School & College Graduation Statistics
census.gov
- High School Graduate
or Higher (25+): 97.5% - Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher (25+): 60.7%
Population of College Students
- Colorado State University: 34,218
Fall 2024; colostate.edu - Front Range Community College: 21,970
Fall 2024; datausa.io
Unemployment: 7.3%
June 2026; bls.gov
Major Industries
kittlerealestate.com
- Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing
Largest Employers
fortcollinschamber.com
- Colorado State University
- UCHealth
- Advanced Energy
Cost of Living
bestplaces.net
- Grocery: 101.1
- Housing: 167.2
- Utilities: 91.3
Gallon of Gas: $3.74
July 2026; gasbuddy.com
Median Gross Rent: $1,690
census.gov
Median Household Income: $85,070
census.gov
Persons in Poverty: 15.8%
census.gov
Crime Index
Safer than 10% of cities in the United States
neighborhoodscout.com
Population
census.gov
Estimated: 148,671
as of July 1,2025
Census: 141,161
as of April 1, 2020
Race Breakdown
census.gov
- White: 58.3%
- Black: 20.8%
- American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.2%
- Asian: 6.4%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0.0%
- Two or More Races: 11.1%
- Hispanic or Latino: 13.6%
- White Alone (not Hispanic or Latino): 54.2%
Median Age: 25.5
censusreporter.org
High School & College Graduation Statistics
census.gov
- High School Graduate
or Higher (25+): 94.3% - Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher (25+): 53.7%
Population of College Students
- University of Florida: 63,148
Fall 2025, ufl.edu - Santa Fe College: 12,698
usnews.com
Unemployment: 9.2%
June 2026; bls.gov
Major Industries
bosshardtrealty.com
- Healthcare/Biomedical Research
- Higher Education and
Research Administration - Tech and Software
- Biotech and Life Sciences
Largest Employers
guidetogreatergainesville.com
- University of Florida
- The Shands/UF Health
- Exactech Inc.
- North Florida Regional Medical Center
Cost of Living
bestplaces.net
- Grocery: 99.2
- Housing: 78.7
- Utilities: 105.4
Gallon of Gas: $3.79
July 2026; gasbuddy.com
Median Gross Rent: $1,296
census.gov
Median Household Income: $46,195
census.gov
Persons in Poverty: 30.8%
census.gov
Crime Index
Safer than 6% of cities in the United States
neighborhoodscout.com
Population
census.gov
Estimated: 147,788
as of July 1, 2025
Census: 138,486
as of April 1, 2020
Race Breakdown
census.gov
- White: 48.3%
- Black: 19.8%
- American Indian orAlaskan Native: 0.4%
- Asian: 2.1%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0.0%
- Two or More Races: 25%
- Hispanic or Latino: 30.6%
- White Alone (not Hispanic or Latino): 44.2%
Median Age: 32
censusreporter.org
High School & College Graduation Statistics
census.gov
- High School Graduate
or Higher (25+): 86% - Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher (25+): 28.7%
Population of College Students
- Baylor University: 19,858
Fall 2025; baylor.edu - McLennan Community College: 8,236
mclennan.edu - Texas State Technical College: 12,077
2024; datausa.io
Unemployment: 6.8%
June 2026; bls.gov
Major Industries
wacochamber.com
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace and Defense
- Supply Chain Management
- Healthcare
Largest Employers
wacoeconomicdevelopment.com
- Baylor University
- Ascension Providence
- Waco ISD
- Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital
Cost of Living
bestplaces.net
- Grocery: 92.4
- Housing: 57.6
- Utilities: 97.2
Gallon of Gas: $3.45
July 2026; gasbuddy.com
Median Gross Rent: $1,165
census.gov
Median Household Income: $54,365
census.gov
Persons in Poverty: 23.1%
census.gov
Crime Index
Safer than 10% of cities in the United States
neighborhoodscout.com
