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CITY · 2020 ACS

Columbia

South Carolina · 136,632 residents · 138.264 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,416. Population has grown 18% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $186,000. At a median age of 29.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 22.8% is well above the national figure. 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 29.9
US median: 38.8
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
136,632
+18%since 2000
from 116,278 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
988 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 841 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
29.9
+5%since 2000
from 28.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
94K106K119K131K144K1990201020202024Columbia
2024140K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,416
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,141 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,863
+64%since 2000
from $18,853 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.9%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$186,000
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$956
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $536 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
43.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 45.6% in 2000
56.3% rent
Afford Score
3.9
+26%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.2%(55,993)
Black45.6%(53,052)
Hispanic / Latino3%(3,520)
Asian1.7%(1,977)
Other0%
Diversity Score68.2%(79,253)
2020
White, non-Hispanic49.2%(67,238)
Black38.1%(52,038)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(8,103)
Asian3%(4,152)
Other3.4%(4,608)
Diversity Score75.5%(103,216)
Diversity Score
76
+11%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 35.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.0%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
19.7%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.2 min
+40%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
63.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
10.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
43.0%
−27.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.4%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Columbia

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Pop 147,384
Savannah
Pop 149,440
Springfield
Pop 154,702
Topeka
Pop 125,795
Places similar to Columbia
Head to head

Compare Columbia to nearby cities

COLUMBIA VS
Woodfield
Income$45,526−4%
Home value$150,800−19%
Population9,465−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Dentsville
Income$45,473−4%
Home value$163,700−12%
Population15,209−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Forest Acres
Income$78,306+65%
Home value$279,300+50%
Population10,390−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Cayce
Income$62,045+31%
Home value$166,800−10%
Population13,680−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, South Carolina?

Columbia, South Carolina has about 136,632 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, South Carolina?

The typical household in Columbia, South Carolina earns about $47,416 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, South Carolina expensive?

In Columbia, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $186,000, and the typical rent is about $956 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, South Carolina?

About 43.4% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, South Carolina?

About 22.8% of people in Columbia, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 38,580 residents, a change of about 39 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →