Columbus vs Macon-Bibb County
Columbus, Georgia versus Macon-Bibb County, Georgia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Columbus and Macon-Bibb County score about the same overall (42 vs 40 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Columbus | Macon-Bibb County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $55k | $49k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $49k |
| Home Value | $168k | $155k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $967 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $40k | $31k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.88% | 1.12% |
| Income Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.38% | 7.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.65% | 11.50% |
| Unemployment | 7.3% | 7.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 48°F | 47°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 83°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8 in | 51.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 262 days | 259 days |
| Summer Humidity | 70°F | 70°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 74 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 19.3 | 22.1 |
| Air Quality | 55 AQI | 58 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.4 | 54.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1344/100k | 1284/100k |
| Property Crime | 2358/100k | 1886/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 204,572 | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.61 | 0.56 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.94 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | D+24 | D+24 |
| White (%) | 38.4% | 36.0% |
| Black (%) | 45.8% | 54.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.0% | 3.7% |
| Asian (%) | 2.6% | 2.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 5.7/20 | 6.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 84 mi | 72 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.7% | 83.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.57 | 9.84 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbus or Macon-Bibb County more affordable?
- Columbus has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Columbus's $47k and Macon-Bibb County's $49k. Median rent is $1k in Columbus versus $967 in Macon-Bibb County.
- Is Columbus or Macon-Bibb County safer?
- Macon-Bibb County has the lower violent crime rate. Columbus reports 1344/100k and Macon-Bibb County reports 1284/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Columbus or Macon-Bibb County?
- The median home value is $168k in Columbus and $155k in Macon-Bibb County, so homes are more affordable in Macon-Bibb County.