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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Columbia Metro

Columbia, SC · 6 counties · 829,470 residents · 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 $56,750. Population has grown 28% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $159,545.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
829,470
+28%since 2000
from 647,158 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
224 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 175 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
38.5
+12%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
518K609K699K789K879K1990201020202024Columbia
2024849K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,750
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,794 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,706
+52%since 2000
from $20,262 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.4%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 10%
Other services7.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$159,545
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,022 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$932
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $537 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
32.2% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+27%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic54.5%(452,439)
Black32.1%(266,196)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(55,280)
Asian2.2%(18,554)
Other3%(24,989)
Diversity Score72.7%(603,032)
Segregation Score44.6%(369,596)
Diversity Score
73
+19%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
45
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.4%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.3%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+55%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
39.2%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.7%
−76.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+16%
Home value$266,500+67%
Population874,790−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Baton Rouge
Income$70,666+25%
Home value$240,565+51%
Population888,699+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Bakersfield
Income$70,210+24%
Home value$338,300+112%
Population927,068+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Albuquerque
Income$71,241+26%
Home value$288,193+81%
Population925,279+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC has about 829,470 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, SC?

The typical household in Columbia, SC earns about $56,750 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 $159,545, and the typical rent is about $932 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, SC?

About 33.4% 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 14.9% 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 281,135 residents, a change of about 51 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 →