At a Glance
Median Income
$55,653
$38,087 per capita
Home Value
$243,500
Zillow: $226,769
Median Rent
$1,158/mo
34.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
775/100K
5,252/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
46.1%
90.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.5%
15.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.2%
14.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
65°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Columbia Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Columbia's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Columbia a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Columbia residents earn a median household income of $55,653 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $38,087. The unemployment rate stands at 4.5% (25% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 12,736 business establishments, including 920 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Columbia is $243,500 , 14% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $226,769. Median rent is $1,158/month, with 34.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1977.
Safety & Crime
Columbia reports 775 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 104% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 5,252/100K. The murder rate is 21.7/100K.
Education
46.1% of adults in Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(37% above the national average).
90.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Columbia has an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C).
Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population138,019
Median Age28.7 yrs
Density997/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.1%
Economy
B
Median Income$55,653
Per Capita$38,087
Unemployment4.5%
Poverty15.0%
County GDP$37,438M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,207
Housing
A
Home Value$243,500
Rent$1,158
Ownership47.3%
Zillow$226,769
Housing Units58,910
Rent Burden34.5%
Crime
F
Violent775/100K
Property5,252/100K
Murder21.7/100K
Assault523/100K
Burglary685/100K
Health
Obesity37.2%
Diabetes14.5%
Smoking14.8%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death9,521/100K
Climate
Avg Temp65°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain49.9 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation315 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+46.1%
High School+90.9%
Graduate+20.1%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 32% / D 66%
Commute17 min
Broadband87.9%
Internet Speed175 Mbps
EV Stations68
Libraries14
Did You Know?
Columbia was founded in 1787.
The median home in Columbia was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Hartsville Regional (51 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.490 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
12.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 175 Mbps.
There are 920 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 65 fatal vehicle crashes.
All Countries
