CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Columbia Metro

Columbia, SC · 6 counties · 647,158 residents · 3,703.09 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $40,794. Population has grown 18% since 1990. Median home value is $90,022.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.5
US median: 35.2
Average education
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
647,158
+18%since 1990
from 548,335 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
175 / sq mi
+18%since 1990
from 148 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
34.5
+9%since 1990
from 31.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
518K609K699K789K879K1990201020202024Columbia
2024849K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,794
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $29,429 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,262
+55%since 1990
from $13,100 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
12.4%
−0.2 ptssince 1990
from 12.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,022
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $68,769 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$537
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $402 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
70.0%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 68.1% in 1990
30.0% rent
Afford Score
2.2
−6%since 1990
from 2.3 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic66.6%(365,001)
Black32%(175,234)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(5,997)
Asian0.8%(4,613)
Diversity Score58.3%(319,600)
2000
White, non-Hispanic62.3%(403,452)
Black32.7%(211,528)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(15,608)
Asian1.2%(7,920)
Diversity Score61.3%(396,581)
Diversity Score
61
+5%since 1990
from 58 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+3.9 ptssince 1990
from 22.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
82.2%
+6.3 ptssince 1990
from 76.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
9.2%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 7.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.9 min
−20%since 1990
from 19.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+62%
Home value$266,500+196%
Population874,790−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Baton Rouge
Income$70,666+73%
Home value$240,565+167%
Population888,699+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Bakersfield
Income$70,210+72%
Home value$338,300+276%
Population927,068+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Albuquerque
Income$71,241+75%
Home value$288,193+220%
Population925,279+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC has about 647,158 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Columbia, SC?

The typical household in Columbia, SC earns about $40,794 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 $90,022, and the typical rent is about $537 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, SC?

About 26.7% 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 12.4% 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 98,823 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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

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