Who moves to Columbia, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Boone County, MO, home of Columbia, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 8,705from other US counties
- Moved out
- 8,865to other US counties
- Net
- −160more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 52tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cole County, MO | 376 |
| Callaway County, MO | 359 |
| St. Louis County, MO | 344 |
| Randolph County, MO | 287 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 239 |
| Audrain County, MO | 216 |
| St. Charles County, MO (O'Fallon) | 196 |
| Greene County, MO (Springfield) | 144 |
| Cooper County, MO | 132 |
| Howard County, MO | 111 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 109 |
| Camden County, MO | 101 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Callaway County, MO | 464 |
| St. Louis County, MO | 420 |
| Cole County, MO | 404 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 339 |
| Audrain County, MO | 250 |
| Randolph County, MO | 247 |
| St. Charles County, MO (O'Fallon) | 188 |
| Cooper County, MO | 180 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 172 |
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 169 |
| St. Louis city, MO (St. Louis) | 155 |
| Howard County, MO | 119 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 4,305 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Missouri and 4,400 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MO | 344 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 239 |
| Greene County, MO (Springfield) | 144 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 109 |
| St. Louis city, MO (St. Louis) | 98 |
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 92 |
| Clay County, MO | 84 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 63 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MO | 420 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 339 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 172 |
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 169 |
| St. Louis city, MO (St. Louis) | 155 |
| Greene County, MO (Springfield) | 113 |
| Clay County, MO | 91 |
| Jefferson County, MO | 76 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Columbia come from?
Most people moving into Boone County, MO come from nearby counties, led by Cole County, MO (376 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is St. Louis County, MO.
Where do people leaving Columbia move to?
The top destination is Callaway County, MO (464 people). Farther away, the most popular is St. Louis County, MO.
Are more people moving to Columbia or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 8,705 people moved into Boone County, MO from elsewhere in the US and 8,865 moved out, a net loss of 160 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Columbia with any city it trades people with, like Columbia vs Kansas City, Columbia vs Springfield, Columbia vs Chicago, Columbia vs St. Louis.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Columbia.