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Columbus, Nebraska

city · Platte County

At a glance

24,488
Population
$213,600
Median home value (all homes)
30% below U.S. median
$273,170
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$892/mo
Median rent
34% below U.S. median
$64,626
Median household income
18% below U.S. median
15.1 min
Average commute
88.4%
Homes with broadband
99.96%
Locations with fiber available
2.4%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 90 — 10% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing12% below
Goods & services6% below
Utilities5% above
Taxes30% below
Insurance7% below
Commute cost46% below
For business: Nebraska is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college38 mi
Nearest community college43 mi
Nearest technical college46 mi
High school graduates90.9%
College graduates21.8%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Columbus
The City of Columbus' economic development efforts aim to recruit new companies, retain and expand existing companies, and provide technical assistance to Columbus-area businesses, with collaboration among the City, the Economic Council of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development department of Loup Public Power District.
city Loup Power District Development
The District provides economic development services to Columbus and area communities in Boone, Colfax, Nance and Platte Counties, and the City of Newman Grove in Madison County. Our core mission is the support of companies that provide products, services, information and knowledge outside of our service area and return capital (revenues) back to the communities.
region Northeast Nebraska Economic Dev District
NENEDD is a regional economic development district based in Norfolk, Nebraska, assisting communities and individuals with economic development, housing, and business loan opportunities, and offering membership to eligible communities within its footprint.
state Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development
Our mission is to provide quality leadership and services that enable Nebraska’s communities, businesses, and people to succeed in a global economy, with programs and resources for starting and growing a business, housing, and economic recovery.
state Union Pacific Railroad Industrial Dev
Union Pacific's Industrial Development team provides guidance and rail project management to help businesses build, expand, or locate rail-served sites on Union Pacific’s expansive network, connecting them to the global economy.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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