Commercial Real Estate Market in Columbus, NE
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
112 active listings and 1,238 off-market properties in Columbus, NE. Commercial property asks $256/SF to buy and $25.00/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Columbus, NE spans 286.7 square miles in Platte County, Nebraska. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Columbus, NE runs 21.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 13.7% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Columbus, NE runs 6.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, down from 8% in 2020.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Columbus, NE runs 4.9% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2019. Nearly 1.6x the 2022 low of 3.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Columbus, NE runs 8% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 6.5% in 2022.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 94%
- Commercial 4.3%
- Industrial 1.4%
- Mixed use 0.2%
- Planned_development 0.1%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Rural Residential District
Single Family Residential District
General Industrial District
General Commercial District
Two Family Residential District And Special Use Permit
Columbus, NE zones 34,938 acres across 36 districts. Commercial zoning covers 4.3% of zoned land, residential 94% and industrial 1.4%. The largest single district is Rural Residential District at 69.3%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 5.7% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Rural Residential District (R-R)
RR Rural Residential District This district provides for very low-density residential environments, accommodating developments that merge urban living with rural life and institutions which require a residential environment. It permits limited agricultural uses within these settings. The district's regulations assure that density is consistent with the carry…
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Columbus, NE has 30,189 residents in 12,963 households. Density runs 105 people per square mile. Median household income here is $70,697 and median gross rent $872 a month.
30,189
Population
12,963
Households
2.3
Avg Household Size
38
Median Age
24%
College-Educated
89%
High-School Grad
286.7 sq mi
ZIP Area
105
Density / Sq Mi
$70,697
Median Household Income
$41,450
Median Earnings
$872
Median Rent
$204,700
Median Home Value
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Duncan | — | — |
| Richland | — | — |
| Bellwood | — | — |
| Platte Center | — | — |
Commercial property in Columbus, NE asks $256/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Columbus?
Commercial property in Columbus, NE asks an average of $256 per square foot. The 7 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $226/SF, so asking sits 13% above the achieved median.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Columbus?
Asking lease rates in Columbus, NE average $25.00 per square foot per year.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Columbus?
Columbus, NE zones 34,938 acres across 36 districts, of which 4.3% is commercial and 1.4% industrial. The largest single district is Rural Residential District at 69.3% of zoned land. RR Rural Residential District This district provides for very low-density residential environments, accommodating developments that merge urban living with rural life and institutions which require a residential environment. It permits limited agricultural uses within these settings. The district's regulations assure that density is consistent with the carry… Residential zoning covers 94% and open space 0%.
Where does Realmo's Columbus market data come from?
Realmo compiles Columbus, NE figures from 7 recent recorded sales, 109 active sale listings, 3 active lease listings, 1,238 tracked off-market properties, the current Columbus zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 109 active for-sale and 3 active for-lease listings in Columbus, NE. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 34,938 zoned acres across 36 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Midwest region level, retail vacancy is reported at Midwest region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Midwest region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
