Columbia, SC Local Data & Statistics

State: SC

Total population: 139,643 Household income: $55,529 Rent: $1,204

Overview

Total population

139,643

Rent

$1,204

Year built

1980

Household income

$55,529

Per capita income

$39,058

Poverty rate

24%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

South Carolina

Total population

139,643

Adults over 25

79,609

Total households

53,076

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,529

Per capita income

$39,058

Poverty rate

24%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

55.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,204

Year built

1980

Households that rent

54.5%

Households that own

45.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

46.9%

Black

40.6%

Asian

3.3%

Two or more races

6.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88.4%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

11.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.8%

High school graduate or GED

19.7%

Some college or associate degree

9.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

45.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Columbia, SC with: South Carolina United States

Columbia, SC

Total population139,643

Rent$1,204

Year built1980

Household income$55,529

Per capita income$39,058

Poverty rate24%

Unemployment rate4.3%

South Carolina State

Total population5,296,225

Rent$1,180

Year built1992

Household income$69,324

Per capita income$39,236

Poverty rate14.1%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityColumbia, SC	StateSouth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	139,643	5,296,225	334,922,499
Rent	$1,204	$1,180	$1,413
Year built	1980	1992	1980
Household income	$55,529	$69,324	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,058	$39,236	$44,673
Poverty rate	24%	14.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Columbia, SC, South Carolina and United States →

Summary for Columbia, SC

Columbia is located in South Carolina.

Rent & Income

In Columbia, the typical monthly rent is $1,204 and the typical household income is $55,529. Rent here is similar to South Carolina and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both South Carolina and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 24%, which is higher than in both South Carolina and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 54.5% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 55.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 45.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is similar to South Carolina and higher than the national rate.

Columbia, SC — Rent vs Household Income

Columbia, SC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Columbia, SC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,204 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Columbia, SC

Annual Household Income: $55,529

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Columbia, SC

Estimated Rate: 24%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Columbia, SC

In Columbia, SC, households that rent: 28,914 (54.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	28,914	54.5%
Owner-Occupied	24,162	45.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Columbia, SC

In Columbia, SC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 15,993 (55.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	15,993	55.3%
Other renter households	12,921	44.7%
Total renter households	28,914	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Columbia, SC

Less than High School: 19,774 people (24.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 15,700 people (19.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,594 people (9.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 36,541 people (45.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 79,609

📊 Unemployment Rate in Columbia, SC

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Orange, CA138,723 Warren, MI138,128 Fullerton, CA141,278 West Valley City, UT137,955 Waco, TX141,925 Hampton, VA137,334 Cedar Rapids, IA136,859 Dayton, OH136,741 Visalia, CA142,649 Pasadena, CA136,462

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.