Housing Report for Columbia

Columbia had a median home value in the year 2005 of $126,800, accounted by the American Community Survey. This value is greater than the overall Missouri 2005 median home value of $123,100 and less than median home value of $167,500 across the nation during that year.

When comparing areas across the State of Missouri, Columbia stands 1 of the 7 metro areas by percent in growth of new residential structures. The metropolitan area places 41 of 361, in terms of residential real estate percentage change compared to other United States metro areas.

In Columbia, the real estate market was made up of 69,747 housing structures in 2005. The metro area has seen a medium-high growth level in the number housing units, adding a total of 7,095 homes since 2001, or 11.3 percent.

Columbia can be understood as having a medium proportion of high-valued homes. For the year 2005, the American Community Survey accounted that 3.4 percent of owner-occupied dwellings were valued over a half a million dollars.

It can be understood that there is a fair amount of real estate that is affordable in Columbia, Missouri. In 2005, 49.1 percent of residential real estate was valued under $125,000.

The residential housing values in Columbia, Missouri have experienced moderate increases since their reported values in 2000. The values have increased by $19,400, or 18.1 percent, from 2000 when they had reported median values of $107,400.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Columbia, Missouri -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

An industry with high wages in Columbia is the management of companies and enterprises sector paying an annual wage of $44,563. From the year 2001, the annual average wages in the industry have grown by 12.4 percent or $4,915. The State of Missouri holds a similar job market in the management of companies and enterprises industry, falling near the top of sectors by 2004 industry pay.

In Columbia, Management of companies and enterprises, Retail Trade and Construction are the three industries with the highest location quotients. The Management of companies and enterprises sector has a United State LQ of 2.49. The level of employment in the Management of companies and enterprises sector is 2.49 times more than the average percent in the United States, revealing signs that Columbia may be an exporter of products or services of Management of companies and enterprises.

The Accommodation and food services has seen the largest decrease in industry presence in the Columbia Metropolitan Area since 2001, going from making up 12.6 percent of total employment for the year 2001 to 0 percent of total employment in the year 2005.

In Columbia, Retail Trade, Manufacturing, and the Construction sectors, in terms of total employment, are the largest. Retail Trade provides the most jobs and contributes 17.7 percent of all the jobs in the Metropolitain Area. This makes up 10,190 individuals. The Manufacturing and Construction sectors account for 9 and 7.6 percent of the total jobs, respectively.

Construction in the period of 2001 to 2005 had the largest increase in employment in Columbia, with an industry growth of 23 percent. This is greater than the United States industry change in employment of 7.3 percent. The State of Missouri had changed in sector employment of 2.2 percent, in the last 5 years.

Management of companies and enterprises has the largest employers in Columbia Metropolitan Area (MSA), averaging 61 jobs per place of business. This is greater than the industry's national average of 40 and greater than the State of Missouri average establishment size of 44 for the Management of companies and enterprises industry.





Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).