The typical owner-occupied home in Columbus is worth about $213,600, 10% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 36% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,990 a year in property taxes, about 1.40% of their home's value, lower than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $64,626 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Columbus at a glance
| Columbus | Nebraska | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,600 | $238,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,990 | $3,549 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.40% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $64,626 | $76,475 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 66% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 51% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,563 | $1,736 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.2% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $892 | $1,072 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.0% | 27.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1972 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.4% | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| Population | 24,488 | 1,978,707 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Columbus
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Columbus home of $213,600 with 20% down costs about $1,488 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,844, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $63,759 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Columbus household income of $64,626; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $217,000.
The median rent here is $892 a month, so owning the median home costs about $596 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $42,720 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $170,880 |
| Principal and interest | $1,150 |
| Property taxes (1.40% a year) | $249 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $89 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,488 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,476 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $209,731 |
| Principal and interest | $1,411 |
| Property taxes (1.40% a year) | $249 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $89 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $94 |
| Total per month | $1,844 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Columbus
What is the median home value in Columbus?
About $213,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Columbus?
Homeowners pay a median $2,990 a year, which is about 1.40% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Columbus?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,488 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $63,759 a year.
More about Columbus
- Mortgage Refinance in Columbus
- Debt Relief in Columbus
- Home Equity Loans in Columbus
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data