Updated September 10, 2026
How much housing does Columbia have?
The Census counts 55,441 housing units in Columbia for a population of about 127,200 — roughly 2.3 people for every housing unit.
That makes Columbia the fourth largest of the four Missouri cities with a page here; Kansas City counts 243,692.
Who arranges chimney work on a Columbia home?
About 49.4% of occupied Columbia homes are owner-occupied, which leaves about 50.6% rented.
With 50.6% of occupied Columbia homes rented, the person who notices the smell, the stain or the smoke is more often than not a tenant, and the person who authorizes a repair is someone else. Say which you are when you send a request, so the findings reach whoever has to act on them.
Tenure also decides who keeps the paperwork. A Columbia chimney's earlier reports follow the property, not the occupant, so ask for them whichever side of that 49.4% you are on.
Which cities near Columbia have their own page here?
St. Louis, about 114 miles away, Kansas City, about 120 miles away, and Springfield, about 132 miles away — measured from Columbia.
Those are great-circle distances between the Census 2023 Gazetteer interior points of each place, so the drive is longer than the figure.
St. Louis's median build year is 1938 against Columbia's 1993, a 55-year difference in the housing the two chimneys belong to.
What you can observe safely
- Photograph the staining while the system is cold and from a safe distance.
What to avoid
- Do not climb onto the roof or enter the chimney.
- Do not alter gas components, venting, or safety controls.
- Do not use a test fire to diagnose the problem.
Possible causes to assess
- Combustion deposits
- Smoke escaping the expected path
- Appliance or venting concern
A symptom cannot establish the cause remotely. An assessment of the complete system helps determine the appropriate repair.
Chimney inspection in ColumbiaA few common questions
Can this be diagnosed from a photo?
A photo can document a symptom and help prepare a visit. It cannot confirm concealed conditions or establish that a chimney or fuel-burning appliance is safe.
Sources & further reading
Source checked 2026-09-10.