Homefactsby IDLookupNew search

Neighborhood report

Columbus, NE

Founded 1856Platte CountyElev. 441 m
Population
24,188
Median home
$198,900
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
14
Sex offenders
1

Overview

About Columbus

Columbus is a city in Nebraska with about 24,188 residents. Columbus was founded in 1856 and sits in Platte County. The median age is 37.7 and the median household income is $67,212. Homes carry a median value of $198,900, and about 67% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (69.7%). Around 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 14 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Look up anyone in Columbus, NE
Search Columbus residents by name — addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal & public records.
Search people →

Who lives here

Demographics

Population
24,188
Median age
37.7
Median household income
$67,212
Per-capita income
$35,400
Poverty rate
9.7%
High-school grad or higher
90.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
23.3%
Unemployment
3%
Avg. commute
14.2 min
Work from home
4.6%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White69.7%
Hispanic or Latino26.3%
Black0.9%
Asian0.4%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts31.3%
Production, transportation & material moving28.1%
Service15.4%
Sales & office14.8%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance10.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$198,900
Median gross rent
$871/mo
Owner-occupied
66.8%
Median year built
1972
Households
9,664
Avg. household size
2.47

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Mixed

Columbus has 14 public schools — 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 2 schools
Reading42%
Math60%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOLHighGrades 9–12
LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOLHighGrades 9–12
COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOLMiddleGrades 5–8
LAKEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLMiddleGrades 7–8
CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–4
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–4
LOST CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHElementaryGrades -1–4
NORTH PARK ELEMENTARYElementaryGrades -1–4
SHELL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–6
WEST PARK ELEMENTARYElementaryGrades -1–4
ESU 7 LEARNING ACADEMYOtherGrades -1–12
ESU 7 CENTERGrades 8–11
KRAMER EDUCATION CENTERGrades -1–-1
PATHWAYS BEYOND/EARLY STEPS TO SUCCESS BUILDINGGrades -1–-1

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime68% below national
Columbus124
Nebraska199
United States386
↑ 8% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime33% below national
Columbus1,299
Nebraska1,611
United States1,952
↓ 17% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Columbus Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Columbus.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Platte County
HailRelatively High
Ice stormRelatively High
Strong windRelatively High
TornadoRelatively High
Winter weatherRelatively High
DroughtRelatively Moderate

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Columbus is in Platte County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Columbus was founded in 1856 and sits in Platte County. Elevation ~441 m.

Map of Columbus
Columbus, NE
Where Columbus is
OmahaLincolnBellevueGrand IslandKearneyFremontColumbus
Historic places

10 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Glur's TavernGottschalk, Frederick L. and L. Frederick, HousesSegelke, C., BuildingSnyder, H. E., HousePlatte County CourthouseColumbus Izaak Walton League LodgeBehlen, Walter and Ruby, HouseStenger, Albert and Lina, House
Notable people from Columbus
Lucas CruikshankBrad William HenkeJim PillenMax MathewsChad FleischerUmar Faruq Abd-AllahAndrew HigginsLawrence BrockChuck JuraParker Douglass
People searches in Columbus
Michael Smith (4)John Smith (3)James Smith (3)David SmithRobert SmithMichael JohnsonJohn JohnsonJames JohnsonMichael WilliamsWilliam SmithDavid JohnsonRobert JohnsonJohn WilliamsMichael BrownMichael JonesJames WilliamsDavid WilliamsJohn BrownRobert WilliamsJohn JonesWilliam JohnsonMary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Schuyler (15 mi)Seward (39 mi)Norfolk (41 mi)York (41 mi)Wahoo (41 mi)West Point (44 mi)

Public records

Incarceration records — Platte County

Most-recorded names in Platte County booking & incarceration records:

Benjamin Gonzalez (1)Dale Allen (1)Delvin Jones (1)Efrain Rodriguez (1)Henry Baker (1)Jeremy Jones (1)Jorge Lambert (1)Marco Gonzalez (1)Matthew Davis (1)Richard Garcia (1)Robert Harris (1)

Names with the most public booking/incarceration records in the county. Source: state & county correctional rosters (first-party).

Registered sex offenders in Columbus, NE (1)

Public sex-offender registry records for Columbus, Nebraska.

James Nelson Jones, 30
Columbus · Platte County · 68601
AKA Jason N Jones

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Columbus — frequently asked

What is the population of Columbus, Nebraska?
Columbus has a population of about 24,188, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Columbus?
The median home value in Columbus is $198,900, and the median gross rent is $871/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Columbus safe? What is the crime rate?
Columbus Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 124 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Columbus face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Platte County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including hail, ice storm, strong wind.
How many schools are in Columbus?
Columbus has 14 public schools (6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Columbus?
Public registry data lists 1 registered sex offenders in or near Columbus. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Columbus →