Columbia, Tennessee offers its newcomers a delightfully charming community to call home. Relocating families who arrive in Columbia are immediately struck by the warm and welcoming atmosphere here. The town truly lives up to its motto of "Old South Charm. New South Progress."

Columbia is ideally situated along the banks of the Duck River. In its earliest days, this location made Columbia an important transportation hub and trading post. The surrounding lands were, and are still today, lush and fertile with cattle and produce farms dotting the landscape. The mineral-rich soil also boasts plentiful deposits of limestone and phosphate.

But Columbia is perhaps best known for its livestock. Visitors from across the nation visit Columbia each year to take part in its National Jubilee of Tennessee Walking Horses. This elegant affair brings thousands of top equestrians and spectators each June.

Even more popular, the city has hosted the Mule Day festival each year since 1840. This week-long tribute pays homage to the often underappreciated animal that was a fundamental component of Columbia’s founding. Over 200,000 international visitors travel to Columbia to take part in the town’s parade, markets, livestock shows, food, arts and crafts.

Columbia’s rich history extends beyond its livestock and agriculture. It was also the boyhood home of James K. Polk, the eleventh President of the United States. The original home still exists in Columbia, and sits as a deep point of pride near the city’s downtown core. It is open for tours, and is a popular destination for tourists from the surrounding region.

Within Columbia, residents enjoy the exceptional quality of life to be found here. The town offers locals the kind of peace and comfort that is difficult to find in many other American cities. Columbia is the kind of town where people stop to greet one another on the street, and there is always someone nearby to offer a helping hand to a neighbor in need.

It is the strength of its infrastructure and amenities, strong local economy, and the numerous intangibles that make daily life such a joy here in Columbia. It is also the reason that many prominent archivists have named Columbia to their Number One slot of small towns in America.

Education is a priority for Columbia and its residents. Because of this, Columbia’s public school system is top-notch. There are eleven schools serving Columbia’s students, with an impressive student to teacher ratio of fourteen-to-one. For higher education, Columbia is also home to Columbia State Community College. The school was dedicated by none other than Lyndon B. and Lady Bird Johnson, and offers over fifty degree and certificate programs.

Perhaps most impressive to newcomers is Columbia’s incredibly affordable cost of living. Columbia offers its residents the opportunity to not simply ‘get by’ but to truly thrive. Residents here have an extremely versatile real estate market, in which you will find a wide array of housing options. Homes in Columbia range from classic historic residences to cozy cottages.

Recent reports indicate that real estate prices in Columbia, Tennessee currently start at a listing price of $19,900 for a single-family "starter" or "fixer-upper" style home. A typical three-bedroom, two-bath single-family home in Columbia currently starts at a listing price of $69,900. The median price for this type of home is now well below the national average, at $179,900.

At the highest end of Columbia’s real estate market, home prices now top out at $1,350,000 for a luxurious estate home with five bedrooms, seven baths, and nearly seven thousand square feet of living space! At this price point, home buyers in Columbia will discover a gorgeous custom home with designer appoints throughout, an in-ground swimming pool, and some twenty acres of land to call their own.

There is something for everyone here in Columbia. Busy professionals, families, and seniors all find an incredible hometown, fantastic residents, and an unparalleled quality of life when they move to Columbia, Tennessee. If you are also thinking about moving to Columbia, Tennessee, simply request our free relocation packet today.