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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Columbia Metro

Columbia, SC · 6 counties · 767,598 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 $48,168. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $136,173.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 35.7
US median: 37.2
Average education
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
767,598
+19%since 2000
from 647,158 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
207 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 175 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
35.7
+4%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
518K609K699K789K879K1990201020202024Columbia
2024849K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,168
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,794 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,184
+24%since 2000
from $20,262 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
29.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
13.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information11.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services8.3%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$136,173
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,022 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$738
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $537 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
49.1%
−20.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
32.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
24.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.8
+28%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic58.4%(447,927)
Black32.9%(252,329)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(39,153)
Asian1.6%(12,543)
Other1.8%(13,991)
Diversity Score68.3%(524,136)
Diversity Score
68
+11%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
87.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+48%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
36.6%
−29.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
12.5%
−34.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+37%
Home value$266,500+96%
Population874,790−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Baton Rouge
Income$70,666+47%
Home value$240,565+77%
Population888,699+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Bakersfield
Income$70,210+46%
Home value$338,300+148%
Population927,068+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Albuquerque
Income$71,241+48%
Home value$288,193+112%
Population925,279+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC has about 767,598 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, SC?

The typical household in Columbia, SC earns about $48,168 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 $136,173, and the typical rent is about $738 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, SC?

About 30.4% 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 13.7% 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 219,263 residents, a change of about 40 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 →