Why Choose Columbia, MO? Life in Columbia, Missouri ABC Laboratories resides within the vibrant city of Columbia, Missouri, population 102,324. In Columbia, you can easily meet new friends in the lively local hangouts and inviting neighborhoods around town. Connect with the great outdoors in the expanse of greenery, cliffs and rivers that fill the lush landscape. Or mingle in the high-brow social circles of academia. Whatever the setting where you feel most comfortable, Columbia's diversity will welcome you. Enjoy the quality of life As a Columbia resident, you can enjoy the good life. Columbia has a low cost of living, hovering at 5 to 6 percent below the national average, so residents get more for less. Columbia housing prices rank in the most affordable 15 percent of all cities in the country. Plus, the Columbia public school district receives high marks for excellence with more than 80 percent of high school graduates continuing their education beyond high school. In addition, Columbia boasts a low unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, which falls well below the national average. And that number is expected to become even more favorable as companies like IBM, 3M and Mamtek International carry out plans to expand their businesses in and around our community. As an added bonus, the average commute to work is less than 13 minutes so ABC employees spend less time in traffic than most Americans. When you accept a new job at ABC Laboratories, the difference in commute time could add an hour or more to your home life each work day. Play and explore Discover all the fun and entertainment that abounds in Columbia. The city will thrill your heart and mind with art shows, theatre performances and cultural events and excite your senses with live music, stimulating nightlife and independent restaurants for a taste of local flavor. For your body and soul, breathe in the fresh air and participate in the outdoor fun. Columbia provides 45 public parks and two state parks, more than 34 miles of nature and fitness trails, and numerous public and private golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts throughout the city. Live and learn in a college town Columbia is home to theUniversity of Missouri, a campus with more than 29,000 enrolled students and a top-notch athletic program. So, if you enjoy college football, basketball or tailgating, you will find no shortage of fellow sports enthusiasts and home games. Columbia also offers two private colleges, Columbia College and Stephens College. With so many higher education opportunities, more than 25 percent of Columbia residents have graduate degrees, resulting in a highly educated community of friends and co-workers.