Quick answer (as of October 2026): Columbia, TN is a good place to live if you want a county seat with a real courthouse square, a 255-bed hospital and Tennessee's first community college, about 48 road miles south of downtown Nashville. For 2026, a home inside the city limits pays $1.9758 per $100 of assessed value in property tax ($1.369 Maury County plus $0.6068 City of Columbia), so a $400,000 home runs about $1,976 a year. Columbia Power & Water Systems supplies power and water inside the city. Downtown Nashville is about 58 minutes away without traffic, Franklin about 38 and Spring Hill about 18.
Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
Most people looking at Columbia are weighing two things: what it'll cost to live there, and how bad the drive is to wherever they work. Here are the real numbers for both, plus the rest of what I'd tell you before you buy.
I live up the road in Thompson's Station, and I own a renovated historic home near the square in Columbia. I've been selling real estate since 2013 and investing in real estate since 2005, so I look at a town the way an owner does: taxes, utilities, the drive, and what's within a few minutes of the front door.
What does it cost to live in Columbia, TN?
The biggest local cost to check in Columbia, TN is property tax. For 2026, a home inside the city limits pays $1.9758 per $100 of assessed value, a home in unincorporated Maury County pays $1.369, and Tennessee doesn't tax wages.
Property taxes in Columbia for 2026
| Where the home sits | Maury County | City of Columbia | Combined, per $100 assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Columbia city limits | $1.369 | $0.6068 | $1.9758 |
| Outside city limits, unincorporated Maury County | $1.369 | none | $1.369 |
Tennessee assesses a home at 25 percent of its appraised value. So a home appraised at $400,000 is assessed at $100,000, and the 2026 bill is about $1,976 inside the city and about $1,369 just outside it.
Maury County reappraised every property for 2026. After a reappraisal, the county assessor calculates a certified tax rate meant to bring in about the same revenue as the year before, not counting new construction. The county rate went from $1.91 in 2025 to $1.369, and the City of Columbia adopted its certified rate of $0.6068, down from $0.8251.
Appraised values reset at the same time, so compare a home's 2026 bill to its 2025 bill, not one rate to the other. City limits and mailing addresses don't always line up, either. Check the parcel on the state's Tennessee Property Assessment Data site, or send me the address and I'll check it before you write an offer.
Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
Already own in Columbia and wondering what your home is worth after the reappraisal? Start with my home value request.
Sales tax and income tax
Tennessee's state sales tax is 7 percent on most purchases and 4 percent on groceries, and Maury County adds a 2.75 percent local rate. Tennessee's only individual income tax, the Hall tax on interest and dividends, was repealed for tax periods starting January 1, 2021, and it never applied to wages. Talk to a tax professional about your own situation.
What new homes cost
New construction is the easiest place to see prices, because builders publish them. As of October 19, 2026, 14 builders were selling in 18 communities with a Columbia address, with published starting prices from $274,990. My Columbia new construction guide lists every one, and I update it as prices move.
Who provides utilities in Columbia, TN?
In Columbia, TN, Columbia Power & Water Systems (CPWS) supplies electricity, water and broadband inside the city, the City of Columbia runs the sewer system, and Atmos Energy supplies natural gas.
- Electric: CPWS inside the city, distributing TVA power. Parts of the county outside the city are served by Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, so check which one serves the address.
- Water: CPWS. The source is the Duck River.
- Internet: CPWS also offers broadband.
- Sewer: the City of Columbia's wastewater system, funded by its own customer fees, not city property taxes. On a lot outside the city, ask whether it's on sewer or a septic system before you buy.
- Natural gas: Atmos Energy serves the city and county.
To start power and water, CPWS takes applications online through its Start/Stop/Move Service page, or call 931-388-4833.
How long is the commute from Columbia?
From the courthouse square, Columbia is about 18 minutes from Spring Hill, 38 from downtown Franklin and 58 from downtown Nashville without traffic. Times were measured from the Maury County Courthouse on the Public Square with OSRM, an open routing engine built on OpenStreetMap data, on October 22, 2026. These are no-traffic times, so add more at rush hour.
| To | Route | Miles | Minutes, no traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill City Hall | US 31 (Nashville Highway) north | 11.3 | 18 |
| Downtown Franklin | Bear Creek Pike (US 412) to I-65 north | 31.3 | 38 |
| CoolSprings Galleria | Bear Creek Pike to I-65 north | 32.2 | 39 |
| Downtown Nashville (State Capitol) | Bear Creek Pike to I-65 north | 47.8 | 58 |
| Nashville International Airport | Bear Creek Pike to I-65, I-440 and I-40 | 50.8 | 61 |
| Maury Regional Medical Center | West 7th Street to Trotwood Avenue | 2.0 | 4 |
| Columbia State Community College | West 7th Street to Hampshire Pike | 4.1 | 7 |
Two roads carry those trips. US 31, Nashville Highway, runs north to Spring Hill. Bear Creek Pike, US 412, runs east to I-65 at exit 46, the route to Franklin, Nashville and the airport.
I-65 exit 37, State Route 50 (New Lewisburg Highway), is Columbia's other interstate exit. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey puts the average commute for people who live in Columbia at 28 minutes.
What's healthcare like in Columbia?
Maury Regional Medical Center, at 1224 Trotwood Avenue in Columbia, is the flagship hospital of Maury Regional Health. It was founded in 1953 and, as of October 2026, has 255 beds and a medical staff of more than 500 providers across more than 60 specialties. It's about four minutes from the square.
What about schools and college in Columbia?
Columbia is in Maury County Public Schools. The district publishes a street-by-street school lookup, so check the exact address with the district's street lookup before you count on a school.
Columbia State Community College was founded here in 1966 as the first community college in Tennessee. Its main campus is at 1665 Hampshire Pike, and it also has a Williamson County campus in Franklin.
What is there to do in Columbia, TN?
The Duck River winds right through Columbia. The Nature Conservancy calls it one of the most biologically rich freshwater rivers in North America, with more fish species than all the rivers of Europe combined, and local outfitters rent kayaks and canoes.
- Riverwalk Park sits on the Duck River downtown, with paved paths and green space. The Columbia Farmers Market sets up at its pavilion Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, year round.
- Chickasaw Trace Park is on the Duck River, with single-track mountain bike trails.
- Yanahli Park covers 474 acres, and its Cheeks Bend Bluff Trail follows the bluffs above the Duck River to Rummage Cave.
- Woodland Park has an 18-hole disc golf course in the middle of town.
What's on the courthouse square?
The Maury County Courthouse, built in 1904 and 1905, sits in the middle of Columbia's Public Square, ringed by shops and restaurants. The President James K. Polk Home, built by Polk's father in 1816, is on West 7th Street just west of the square.
First Fridays run April through December from 5 to 8 p.m., and Mule Day is set for April 1 to 3, 2027. My downtown Columbia, TN guide covers the square, the older homes around it and the city's historic zoning rules.
Is Columbia growing?
Columbia is growing. The 2020 Census counted 41,690 people, and the city reports that its 2025 special census counted 17.3 percent more. The builders show it too: as of October 19, 2026, 14 of them were selling in 18 communities with a Columbia address.
Is Columbia, TN a good place to live?
Here's what Columbia has: a county seat with a real courthouse square, a 255-bed hospital four minutes from downtown, Tennessee's first community college, the Duck River through the middle of town, about 18 minutes to Spring Hill and under an hour to downtown Nashville without traffic, and lower property tax rates for 2026 after the reappraisal. Whether it fits you comes down to your budget, your commute and the kind of house you want.
Tell me what you need near you and I'll send homes that fit, inside or outside the city limits. DM, text or call me at 615-392-1186. For the full city guide, start with my Columbia, TN page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Columbia, TN?
For 2026, a home inside Columbia city limits pays $1.9758 per $100 of assessed value: $1.369 to Maury County and $0.6068 to the City of Columbia. Outside the city, it's the county rate of $1.369. Homes are assessed at 25 percent of appraised value, so a $400,000 home pays about $1,976 a year inside the city.
How far is Columbia, TN from Nashville?
About 48 miles from the Maury County Courthouse to the State Capitol by Bear Creek Pike and I-65, roughly 58 minutes without traffic. Nashville International Airport is about 51 miles and 61 minutes. Add time at rush hour.
What county is Columbia, TN in?
Maury County. Columbia is the county seat. It isn't in Williamson County, though it's about 31 miles from downtown Franklin.
Who provides electricity and water in Columbia, TN?
Columbia Power & Water Systems supplies power and water inside the city, along with broadband. The City of Columbia runs the sewer system, and Atmos Energy provides natural gas. Some homes outside the city get power from Duck River Electric Membership Corporation.
Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
Tennessee doesn't tax wages. Its only individual income tax, the Hall tax on interest and dividends, was repealed for tax periods starting January 1, 2021. Talk to a tax professional about your own situation.
When is Mule Day 2027?
Mule Day is set for April 1 to 3, 2027, according to the event's official site. The Saturday parade is the highlight.
Is Columbia, TN growing?
Yes. The 2020 Census counted 41,690 people in Columbia, and the city reports its 2025 special census counted 17.3 percent more. As of October 19, 2026, 14 builders were selling in 18 communities with a Columbia address.
Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
Tell me what you need near you and I'll send homes that fit, inside or outside the city limits. DM, text or call me at 615-392-1186.
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