Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Columbia is a great place to live due to a low cost of living, an excellent education system, outstanding health care facilities, abundant entertainment opportunities, beautiful parks and trails, a clean environment and much more.

There are many people ready to help you if you are interested in Columbia. Start with the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau for a list of hotels if you plan to visit and learn more about the exciting attractions and beautiful amenities. If you are looking to relocate a business, we encourage you to contact the Regional Economic Development, Inc., (REDI), who specializes in business attraction, business retention and entrepreneurism. If you are ready to make Columbia your home, contact the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for relocation information about Columbia, a great place to work, live and play!

Columbia is consistently listed among the top cities in the United States by national magazines and organizations. Its excellent public school system, access to quality health care and central location consistently earn Columbia's position as one of the top places to live and do business.

• For the 5th year in a row, Columbia, Missouri was included in the Forbes Top 10 list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Factors included cost of doing business, job growth and educational attainment. (June 29, 2011)
• Kansas City Star reported that Boone County, Missouri, home to Columbia and the University of Missouri, was one of the nation's top 10 counties for employment growth between September 2009 and September 2010. (March 30, 2011)
• In 2011, NewGeography put Columbia, Missouri #20 on their list of Best Small Cities for Job Growth.
• Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked Missouri 15th in the nation for best states for small business in their "Business Tax Index 2011".
• Southern Living magazine included Columbia, Missouri in their list of "The South's Best College Towns." They write, "Three schools border this hip downtown–Columbia College, Stephens College, and the University of Missouri, said to be home to the first homecoming celebration. Mizzou alums return each year and flock to neighborhoods like the North Village Arts District, brimming with art galleries, music venues, and indie film houses, such as Ragtag Cinema." (August 23, 2011)
• In 2011, according to St Louis Today, Columbia has gained a reputation as being more than a college town, allowing it to appeal to recent graduates.
• In 2010, Richard Florida adds Columbia to his Creative Class List citing Columbia as a great place for college graduates to live, work and enjoy life.
• In 2009, Forbes ranked Columbia the 8th Best College Sports Town in America.
• In 2009, the University of Missouri was named a Community-Engaged Campus by the Carnegie Foundation. Less than 5% of colleges and universities nationwide have been awarded this honor. The honor is based on mutually beneficial collaboration between students, faculty and the community.
• In 2010, Forbes ranked Columbia 8th in its Best Places for Business and Careers - Columbia has been listed for the last four years in the top ten.
• Forbes ranked Columbia 13th in its 2008 Smartest Cities in America study, based on education levels of residents in the Columbia metro area.
• In 2008, American Institute for Economic Research named Columbia as the eighth best city for college students with a population under 250,000. Cities are judged on 12 different measures including cost of living and job opportunities.