Columbia, Mo., is known as an ideal college town, combining small-town comforts, community spirit and cost of living with big-city culture, activities and resources. Our city of about 95,000 people is located midway between Missouri’s largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City. Money magazine, Fortune magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Men's Journal, MSN.com and other news entities have named Columbia, Mo., one of the best places in the United States to live because of its high quality of life. The American Institute for Economic Research ranked Columbia among the nation's top 10 college towns.
Columbia is home to nationally renowned public schools, including two top-ranked high schools, and other colleges and educational centers. It's packed with restaurants and entertainment and hosts more than a dozen annual cultural festivals. The city boasts multiple city parks as well as Rock Bridge State Park and the MKT Trail for hiking and bicycling.
For information about city services, consult the City of Columbia New Residents' Guide.
