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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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PLACEThriving

Columbus, TX

Thriving overall. Federal Funds is the clearest support signal, while gdp / output needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score67out of 100
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39
63
85
70
100

Population

3,860

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

-0.0% YoY

39

$1.2B

Output changed -0.0% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.0%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

63

4.2%

Unemployment is 4.2% for June 2026.

Vintage date unknown

State avg5.3%
U.S. avg5.2%

Population

+5.9% 5-year

85

3,860

Population moved +5.9% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population30,188,424
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

70

21.3%

Median rent consumes 21.3% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$1.4K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$8.3K per resident

100

$171.1M

$171.1M in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$311.5B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$171.1M

$8.3K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$141.6M
2. Department of Agriculture$13.6M
3. Department of Veterans Affairs$10.2M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. REDACTED DUE TO PII$12.7M
2. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$3.3M
3. ROBERT ABELL FARMS JV$264.7K

Affordable

Housing Affordability

21.3%

of median income

1BR estimate$721
2BR estimate$949
Median income$49,418
Median home value$241,700

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

3,860

Median age

34.6

Bachelor's degree+

27.8%

Poverty rate

31.5%

Labor force participation

51.4%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

June 2026

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-31

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+1.2%

GDP CAGR

+7.1%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
20203,645
20213,582
20223,686
20233,718
20243,860
GDP (5 years)
2020$858.2M
2021$1.0B
2022$1.1B
2023$1.2B
2024$1.2B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

20243,860
20253,868 *
20263,925 *

R² = 74.4% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$1.2B
2025$1.4B *
2026$1.4B *

R² = 91.0% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$49,418/yr
Median rent$879/mo
Rent share of income21.3%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$14,666/yr
Mortgage share of income29.7%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate4.2%
State avg5.3%
U.S. avg5.2%
Labor force participation51.4%
Poverty rate31.5%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. June 2026.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$241,700
Median monthly rent$879
Price-to-rent ratio22.9x

High price-to-rent ratio — renting may be more economical than buying in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateModerate
Composite score61/100
Economic growth39/100
Labor market63/100
Population momentum85/100
Overall stability67/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Columbus city, Texas

City/Town

Part of

Texas

Nearby locations

Glidden, TXEllinger, TXNew Ulm, TXRock Island, TXWeimar, TX