Columbia County is located in northcentral Florida and sits directly on the George-Florida border. The county has considerably narrow borders and extends southward so that it is bordered by six other counties despite being bordered by Georgia. As of 2019, Columbia County has 71,686 residents according to the US Census Bureau.
Population Centers in Columbia
Established in 1832, Columbia County is one of the oldest communities in Florida, and many of its original towns still exist today. The largest city in the county is Lake City, which represents roughly 17 percent of the county’s population, with 12,116 residents.
Lake City is located about 60 miles west of Jacksonville, FL, and is also the county seat. Lake City holds the county’s major airport, Lake City Municipal Airport, Florida Gateway College, the VA Hospital, and operating centers of several large corporations, including Hunter Panels, New Millennium, and Target Corporation.
Known as “The Gateway to Florida,” Lake City experiences a significant amount of traffic due to its proximity to Interstates 75 and 10, which drives a sizeable portion of the annual tourist and commercial traffic that heads into Florida through Columbia County.
Home Values in Columbia
Columbia County has a relatively low cost-of-living compared both to the rest of Florida and the rest of the US. The median home value in Columbia County is $145,100, a value in-line with the county’s 2018 median household income of $44,491, which is roughly 72 percent of the national median.
Home Insurance Premiums in Columbia County
Because of Florida’s vulnerability to tropical storms each year during hurricane season, having wind mitigation in your home can be an effective way to save money on your annual home premium. In Columbia County, homes worth $150,000 built prior to 2001 can have home insurance premiums that are roughly $400 higher, on average. According to Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation below, the overall average for Columbia County is $1,532.
Average Homeowners Premiums in Columbia County
| Construction Type | Home Value | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2001 (No Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,555.11 |
| Pre-2001 (With Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,166.19 |
| New Construction | $300,000 | $1,873.44 |
| Overall Average | $1531.58 |
You can save even more money on your homeowners policy in Columbia County by comparison shopping among the insurance companies that offer home insurance in the area. In comparison to the county averages, the following insurance companies offer policies with premiums that range between roughly $400 to $900 cheaper, on average.
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 without wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,555.
For below-average rates, check out the options below:
- Universal – $940
- Stillwater – $1,008
- Citizens – $1,123
- First Protective – $1,162
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Columbia County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $940 |
| Stillwater | $1,088 |
| Citizens | $1,123 |
| First Protective | $1,162 |
| Security First | $1,205 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,294 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,298 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $1,317 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,354 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,383 |
| Florida Family | $1,448 |
| People's Trust | $1,448 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,448 |
| ASI | $1,468 |
| Family Security | $1,477 |
| First Community | $1,565 |
| American Integrity | $1,583 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,616 |
| American Traditions | $1,617 |
| Southern Oak | $1,683 |
| St. Johns | $1,701 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,799 |
| Castle Key | $1,949 |
| FedNat | $2,148 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $2,228 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,307 |
| Universal | $2,339 |
| Average | $1,555.11 |
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 with wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,166.
For below-average rates, check out the options below:
- Universal – $555
- Florida Farm – $706
- First Protective – $721
- Stillwater – $856
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction With Wind Mitigation Rate in Columbia County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $555 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $706 |
| First Protective | $721 |
| Stillwater | $856 |
| Citizens | $880 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $937 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,020 |
| St. Johns | $1,022 |
| Florida Family | $1,059 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,065 |
| Security First | $1,073 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,107 |
| Southern Oak | $1,147 |
| People's Trust | $1,152 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,160 |
| FedNat | $1,190 |
| Family Security | $1,198 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,236 |
| American Traditions | $1,250 |
| ASI | $1,254 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,268 |
| First Community | $1,281 |
| American Integrity | $1,318 |
| Universal | $1,350 |
| Castle Key | $1,723 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $1,951 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,008 |
| Average | $1,166.19 |
For $300,000 homes with new construction, the average premium is $1,873.
For below-average rates, check out the options below:
- Universal – $1,020
- Stillwater – $1,086
- Florida Farm – $1,212
- First Protective – $1,293
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $300,000, New Construction in Columbia, FL
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $1,020 |
| Stillwater | $1,086 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $1,212 |
| First Protective | $1,293 |
| Security First | $1,420 |
| Southern Oak | $1,542 |
| People's Trust | $1,608 |
| St. Johns | $1,623 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,635 |
| American Traditions | $1,683 |
| Family Security | $1,715 |
| Citizens | $1,720 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,784 |
| American Integrity | $1,823 |
| Florida Family | $1,853 |
| First Community | $1,961 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,971 |
| Tower Hill Select | $2,019 |
| ASI | $2,027 |
| Southern Fidelity | $2,074 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $2,079 |
| Universal | $2,241 |
| FedNat | $2,306 |
| Castle Key | $2,481 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,497 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $2,540 |
| State Farm Florida | $3,370 |
| Average | $1,873.44 |
Flood Insurance in Columbia
In addition to your home insurance policy, you’ll also need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Although Columbia County may not have as high a risk of damage from tropical storms in comparison to regions along the Gulf Coast, many homes are located in flood zones, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) each year.
As flooding is generally an excluded peril on standard home insurance policies, you’ll need to purchase adequate coverage from a company that offers flood insurance. Fortunately, the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program offers affordable policies in areas rated to be at risk by FEMA.
You can obtain a flood insurance policy for your home through regional companies like First Protective, which can make your life simpler by having both insurance policies under one payment plan.
