Columbia County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Columbia County, Florida had an estimated 73,977 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 69,698, across 798 square miles. County output reached $3.52 bn in 2024, 1,492 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 47 7(a) approvals worth $29.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Columbia County
How many people live in Columbia County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202471,789
- Households27,430
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$59,205
- Median age40.7
- Median gross rent$976 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$194,900
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over50,225
- Population under 1815,907
- Share under 1822.2 percent
- Population 65 and over14,552
- Share 65 and over20.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6441,330
- Civilian labor force31,216
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.9 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties41st of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included776th of 3,222
Columbia County is the 41st largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.2 percent against 20.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Columbia County
Is Columbia County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202473,977
- Census 2020 base population69,698
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.14 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024653
- Births, 2024739
- Deaths, 20241,006
- Natural change, 2024-267
- Net domestic migration, 2024514
- Net international migration, 2024404
- Total net migration, 2024918
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,333
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents390th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.14 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Columbia County
Where are people moving to Columbia County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,273
- People arriving, from those returns4,146
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,747
- Net household movement526
- Adjusted gross income arriving$118.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$37.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,194
- Average income of a leaving household$46,234
- Largest single originAlachua County (254 households)
- Largest single destinationAlachua County (203 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | 254 | 468 | $13.1 m |
| Suwannee County | 212 | 408 | $9.6 m |
| Duval County | 113 | 222 | $5.9 m |
| Leon County | 76 | 91 | $823,000 |
| Union County | 53 | 96 | $1.6 m |
| Broward County | 48 | 84 | $3.2 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 47 | 77 | $2.1 m |
| Baker County | 45 | 69 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $5,960 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Alachua County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Columbia County
What is the Columbia County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.52 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.2 percent
- GDP change over five years42.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes40th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes890th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$49,072
Output grew 3.2 percent in the latest year and 42.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Columbia County
Employment by industry in Columbia County
- Covered employment, annual average24,644
- Establishments reporting1,818
- Average annual pay$51,261
- Average weekly wage$986
- Retail trade, employment3,807
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,717
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,617
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,682
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,721
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,987
- Manufacturing, employment2,313
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$62,953
- Construction, employment1,256
- Transportation and warehousing, employment933
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 3,807 | 317 | $39,717 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,617 | 276 | $50,682 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,721 | 161 | $24,987 |
| Manufacturing | 2,313 | 65 | $62,953 |
| Construction | 1,256 | 193 | $53,633 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 933 | 48 | $55,862 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 802 | 89 | $42,927 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 716 | 143 | $80,173 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 3,807 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Columbia County
How many businesses are in Columbia County?
- Establishments, all industries1,492
- Employment at those establishments20,689
- Annual payroll$1.06 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Columbia County
Building permits in Columbia County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024178
- Declared construction value permitted$43.5 m
- Single family units authorized174
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units2.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$244,119
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.5
Single-family homes are 97.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Columbia County
SBA loans in Columbia County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded47
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$29.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$618,309
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,220,800
- Largest single approval$4,200,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)324
- Jobs per approval6.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active24
- Distinct industries receiving approvals35
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter30
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals19.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (5)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (9)
- 504 approvals recorded31
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.9 m
- Average 504 approval$383,742
- Median 504 approval$312,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval5.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.5
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (23)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$41.0 m
The average approval of $618,309 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Columbia County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Columbia County
Do SBA loans in Columbia County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure32
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Columbia County
SBA lending by place in Columbia County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Lake City, approvals44
- Fort White, approvals2
- White Springs, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lake City | 44 | $28,136,500 |
| Fort White | 2 | $774,000 |
| White Springs | 1 | $150,000 |
Lake City accounts for 44 approvals against 2 in Fort White. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Columbia County
How large is Columbia County?
- Land area798 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties25th of 67
- Width, east to west20.4 mi
- Height, north to south53 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land90
- Establishments per square mile1.87
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Columbia County
Flood risk in Columbia County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Columbia County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120070
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Columbia County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Columbia County (community 120070), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Columbia County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Columbia County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Columbia County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202471,789
- Households27,430
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$59,205
- Median age40.7
Common questions
Columbia County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Columbia County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 73,977 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 71,789, in 27,430 households, ranking 41st of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Columbia County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.14 percent since the 2020 census base of 69,698, to 73,977 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 739 births against 1,006 deaths, with net migration of 918. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Columbia County?
$59,205. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,900, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $976 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Columbia County?
1,492 establishments, employing 20,689 people with an annual payroll of $1.06 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Columbia County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 3,807 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 24,644 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,261, or $986 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Columbia County?
47 7(a) approvals totaling $29.1 m since FY2020, across 24 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 31 504 approvals worth $11.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Columbia County?
178 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $43.5 m. Multifamily was 2.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Columbia County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Columbia County come from?
The largest single origin is Alachua County, with 254 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,194 against $46,234 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Columbia County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Columbia County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Columbia County
Cities and places in Columbia.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Columbia County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | city | 12,515 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Watertown | CDP | 3,068 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Five Points | CDP | 1,097 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort White | town | 531 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 47 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Columbia County, the largest being White Springs (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.