Columbia County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Columbia County, Georgia had an estimated 167,472 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 156,011, across 290 square miles. County output reached $6.22 bn in 2024, 2,943 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 117 7(a) approvals worth $70.9 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 2020-2024162,434
- Households55,149
- Average household size2.95
- Median household income$95,592
- Median age37.9
- Median gross rent$1,409 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$305,300
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over109,322
- Population under 1840,356
- Share under 1824.8 percent
- Population 65 and over24,555
- Share 65 and over15.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6497,523
- Civilian labor force78,508
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties15th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included425th of 3,222
Columbia County is the 15th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.8 percent against 15.1 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, 2024167,472
- Census 2020 base population156,011
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,002
- Births, 20241,708
- Deaths, 20241,263
- Natural change, 2024445
- Net domestic migration, 20241,007
- Net international migration, 2024548
- Total net migration, 20241,555
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20247,203
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents287th of 3,144
The county has grown 7.35 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
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 arriving6,473
- People arriving, from those returns13,656
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,678
- Net household movement795
- Adjusted gross income arriving$444.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$32.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$68,652
- Average income of a leaving household$72,624
- Largest single originRichmond County (1,817 households)
- Largest single destinationRichmond County (1,392 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | 1,817 | 3,445 | $96.5 m |
| Aiken County | 245 | 495 | $14.6 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 163 | 477 | $13.7 m |
| McDuffie County | 112 | 224 | $5.7 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 80 | 195 | $8.8 m |
| Gwinnett County | 72 | 156 | $4.8 m |
| Cobb County | 66 | 125 | $5.3 m |
| Fulton County | 66 | 108 | $6.7 m |
Households arriving report $3,972 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Richmond 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$6.22 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.5 percent
- GDP change over five years38.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes26th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes632nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,286
Output grew 6.5 percent in the latest year and 38.1 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 average39,629
- Establishments reporting3,525
- Average annual pay$49,681
- Average weekly wage$955
- Retail trade, employment6,770
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,144
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,606
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,570
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,409
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,380
- Manufacturing, employment3,109
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$79,334
- Construction, employment3,048
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,989
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 6,770 | 375 | $40,144 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,606 | 297 | $21,570 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,409 | 412 | $51,380 |
| Manufacturing | 3,109 | 89 | $79,334 |
| Construction | 3,048 | 398 | $63,412 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,989 | 270 | $38,957 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,488 | 284 | $42,534 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,473 | 348 | $79,637 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 6,770 jobs, 17.1 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 industries2,943
- Employment at those establishments36,446
- Annual payroll$1.64 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.1
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, 20241,213
- Declared construction value permitted$247.5 m
- Single family units authorized1,184
- Multifamily units authorized29
- Multifamily share of units2.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$204,023
- Units authorized per 1,000 households22.0
Single-family homes are 97.6 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 recorded117
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$70.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$606,301
- Median 7(a) approval$290,000
- 10th percentile approval$44,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,589,160
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,672
- Jobs per approval14.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active41
- Distinct industries receiving approvals66
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter85
- Franchise loans38
- Franchise share of approvals32.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (10)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (14)
- 504 approvals recorded74
- 504 gross approval dollars$45.7 m
- Average 504 approval$617,081
- Median 504 approval$402,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.7
- Most active CDCCSRA Local Development Corporation (71)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$116.6 m
The average approval of $606,301 sits well above the median of $290,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.0 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 recorded15
- Paid in full15
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full15
- Status: Exempt from disclosure75
- Status: Cancelled17
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed10
Only 15 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 lending7
- Evans, approvals41
- Augusta, approvals40
- Grovetown, approvals16
- Martinez, approvals14
- Harlem, approvals4
- Atlanta, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Evans | 41 | $24,539,700 |
| Augusta | 40 | $33,029,900 |
| Grovetown | 16 | $4,906,600 |
| Martinez | 14 | $7,566,000 |
| Harlem | 4 | $305,000 |
| Atlanta | 1 | $440,000 |
| Aiken | 1 | $150,000 |
Evans accounts for 41 approvals against 40 in Augusta. 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 area290 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties101st of 159
- Width, east to west23.5 mi
- Height, north to south23.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land560
- Establishments per square mile10.15
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 130059
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- 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 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Columbia County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Columbia County (community 130059), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Columbia County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 6, 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 2020-2024162,434
- Households55,149
- Average household size2.95
- Median household income$95,592
- Median age37.9
Common questions
Columbia County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Columbia County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 167,472 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 162,434, in 55,149 households, ranking 15th of 159 Georgia 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 7.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 156,011, to 167,472 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,708 births against 1,263 deaths, with net migration of 1,555. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Columbia County?
$95,592. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $305,300, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,409 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Columbia County?
2,943 establishments, employing 36,446 people with an annual payroll of $1.64 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 6,770 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 39,629 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,681, or $955 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?
117 7(a) approvals totaling $70.9 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $290,000, plus 74 504 approvals worth $45.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Columbia County?
1,213 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $247.5 m. Multifamily was 2.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Columbia County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 Richmond County, with 1,817 households. Arriving households report an average income of $68,652 against $72,624 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.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Columbia County. All 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evans | CDP | 36,998 | 41 | Wholly in this county |
| Martinez | CDP | 33,750 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Grovetown | city | 17,014 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Harlem | city | 3,885 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Appling | CDP | 702 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 42 of the county's 117 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Columbia County, the largest being Augusta (40), Atlanta (1), Aiken (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.