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METRO AREA

Columbia Metro

Columbia, SC · 6 counties · 879,918 residents (2025 est.) · 3,703.09 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,275. Population has grown 31% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $232,186.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
849,181
+31%since 2000
from 647,158 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
229 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 175 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+9%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:879,918 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
518K609K699K789K879K1990201020202024Columbia
2024849K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,275
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,794 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,960
+87%since 2000
from $20,262 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.9%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+4%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,186
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,022 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,171
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $537 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
30.7% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.8%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+54%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.3%(403,452)
Black32.7%(211,528)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(15,608)
Asian1.2%(7,920)
Other0%
Diversity Score61.3%(396,581)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic53.3%(452,231)
Black33.1%(281,142)
Hispanic / Latino7%(59,692)
Asian2.3%(19,760)
Other4.3%(36,356)
Diversity Score74.9%(636,318)
Segregation Score42.3%(359,497)
Diversity Score
75
+22%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−5%since 2020
from 45 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.6%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.5%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+57%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.7%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.4%
−24.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.3%
−37.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.8%
−76.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.4%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 74.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 4.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbiaCENTRAL147,035
What's inside

6 component counties

Richland CountyCENTRAL434,956Lexington CountyCENTRAL317,588Kershaw County73,166Fairfield County20,340Saluda County19,680Calhoun County14,188
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbia

Lakeland
Pop 874,790
Baton Rouge
Pop 888,699
Bakersfield
Pop 927,068
Albuquerque
Pop 925,279
Places similar to Columbia
Head to head

Compare Columbia side by side

COLUMBIA VS
Lakeland
Income$65,978−3%
Home value$266,500+15%
Population874,790−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Baton Rouge
Income$70,666+4%
Home value$240,565+4%
Population888,699+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Bakersfield
Income$70,210+3%
Home value$338,300+46%
Population927,068+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Albuquerque
Income$71,241+4%
Home value$288,193+24%
Population925,279+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC has about 849,181 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, SC?

The typical household in Columbia, SC earns about $68,275 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, SC expensive?

In Columbia, SC, the median home is worth about $232,186, and the typical rent is about $1,171 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, SC?

About 35.6% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, SC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, SC?

About 14.6% of people in Columbia, SC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, SC grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, SC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 300,846 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →