Compare cities · September 2026
Columbus vs. Mounds View
Homes in Columbus sold for a median $480,000 over the 12 months through September 2026, 37% more than in Mounds View ($351,000). Homes sold faster in Mounds View: 28 days on market on average, against 33 in Columbus. Columbus's homes are newer, with a median year built of 1984 against 1976. Mounds View is closer to downtown Minneapolis: about 22 minutes by car, against 41. The two are about 11 miles apart.
Housing market, 12 months through September 2026
| Measure | Columbus | Mounds View |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $480,000 | $351,000 |
| Change from a year earlier | +1.1% | +3.2% |
| Homes sold | 36 | 110 |
| Days on market | 33 | 28 |
| Share of original list price | 98.0% | 100.6% |
| Price per square foot | $256 | $206 |
| New listings | 45 | 136 |
| Homes for sale (September 2026) | 9 | 20 |
| Months of supply (September 2026) | 2.9 | 2.2 |
Source: Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update (NorthstarMLS data).
The homes
| Measure | Columbus | Mounds View |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner estimate) | $460,200 | $324,200 |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1976 |
| Single-family homesShare of all housing units, detached houses | 91% | 62% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89% | 69% |
| Median rent | $1,653 | $1,245 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024.
The place
| Measure | Columbus | Mounds View |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2024) | 4,307 | 12,841 |
| Land area | 44.8 sq mi | 4.1 sq mi |
| Drive to Downtown Minneapolis | 41 min | 22 min |
| Drive to Downtown Saint Paul | 42 min | 22 min |
| Drive to MSP Airport | 53 min | 33 min |
| Drive to Mall of America | 54 min | 35 min |
| Drive to University of Minnesota | 39 min | 19 min |
| Average commute to work | 28.8 min | 23.4 min |
| Lakes of 10+ acresMinnesota DNR lake outlines touching the city | 10 | 2 |
Source: US Census Bureau 2024 estimates and TIGER/Line; drive times from OpenStreetMap routing (light traffic).
Columbus
School districts: Forest Lake Public School District
Largest lakes: Coon Lake (1,481 acres), Howard Lake (456 acres), Crossways Lake (355 acres), Rondeau Lake (248 acres), Mud Lake (179 acres)
Mounds View
School districts: Mounds View Public School District
Largest lakes: Spring Lake (32 acres), Wood Lake (12 acres)
How we compare places: by their homes, housing market and location only, from public sources, never by who lives there. Medians describe the middle home; both places have homes well above and below them.
Quick answers
Columbus or Mounds View?
Is Columbus or Mounds View more expensive?
Columbus. The median sale price was $480,000 there and $351,000 in Mounds View over the 12 months through September 2026, according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update. The median is the middle sale, so both have homes well above and below it.
Where do homes sell faster, Columbus or Mounds View?
Mounds View: 28 days on market on average against 33, over the 12 months through September 2026.
Which is closer to downtown Minneapolis?
Mounds View, about 22 minutes by car in light traffic (41 from Columbus). To downtown Saint Paul: 42 minutes from Columbus, 22 from Mounds View.
How far apart are Columbus and Mounds View?
About 11 miles in a straight line between their centers.
Which has more lakes, Columbus or Mounds View?
Columbus has more: 10 lakes of 10+ acres touch Columbus (largest: Coon Lake) and 2 touch Mounds View (largest: Spring Lake), by Minnesota DNR lake outlines.
Which school districts serve Columbus and Mounds View?
Columbus: Forest Lake Public School District. Mounds View: Mounds View Public School District. School district lines don't follow city lines, so check the district for a specific address before you buy.
Should I buy in Columbus or Mounds View?
It depends on your budget, the kind of home you want and where you need to get to each day. This page compares the homes, prices and locations; a Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both and walk you through what's selling now.
Deciding between them?
See homes in Columbus and Mounds View.
A Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both, tell you what's selling and for how much right now, and help you decide. There's no cost to buyers.