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West Columbia, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Lexington County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
17,723 Population 1,883/sq mi density
$54,152 Median Income $35,326 per capita
$186,200 Home Value $222,647 Zillow
$1,092 Median Rent 29.1% income on rent
64°F Avg Temperature 308 sunny days/yr
706 Violent Crime/100K 6,666 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$54,152 median income, 2.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$186,200 home value, $1,092/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
706 violent crimes/100K (86% above avg)
A
Education
4.0 / 5.0
38.1% bachelor's degree or higher
West Columbia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 308 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.2 inches. The area receives 1.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

46°F Jan (8°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average64.3°F
19% above US avg
January Average46°F (8°C)
July Average82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days308 days/yr

Geography

Elevation283 ft (86 m)
Area7.0 sq mi (18.1 km²)
Population Density1,883/sq mi
Coordinates33.9901°N, 81.0994°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyLexington County County
Nearest AirportAiken Regional (AIK)
41 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 45.2"
19% above US avg
Snowfall 1.2"
Wettest Month (Jul) 5.08"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability22.4 / 100
Community Resilience46.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

68 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Feb 15, 2014 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina M4.1 94 km
Aug 21, 1992 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M4.1 142 km
Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 70 km
Apr 17, 1995 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.9 140 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 39 km
Nov 13, 1990 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M3.5 146 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 39 km
Jan 3, 1992 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina M3.4 122 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 40 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 39 km
Aug 29, 2009 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina M3.2 138 km
Jun 20, 2017 6 km SW of Augusta, Georgia M3.2 105 km
Aug 8, 1993 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina M3.2 63 km
May 5, 2003 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.1 134 km
Jul 20, 2004 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.1 138 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 97 km
Mar 29, 1999 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina M3.0 136 km
Feb 16, 2014 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M3.0 91 km
Mar 19, 2014 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.0 140 km
Jul 26, 2002 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.0 133 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

15 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 192 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 228 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 250 km
2018 Florence Category 1 249 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 185 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 287 km
2004 Charley Category 1 192 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 177 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 282 km
1999 Irene Category 1 279 km
1996 Fran Category 3 258 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 281 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 79 km
1985 Bob Category 1 207 km
1984 Diana Category 3 258 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

500 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 30 fatalities, 514 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 47 km 5
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 74 km 0
Dec 13, 1973 EF4 87 km 2
Apr 8, 1957 EF4 86 km 4
Apr 5, 2022 EF3 100 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 90 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 80 km 2
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 89 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 97 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 77 km 0
Apr 10, 2009 EF3 95 km 0
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 86 km 0
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 66 km 0
Apr 15, 2007 EF3 60 km 1
Dec 10, 2004 EF3 53 km 0
Sep 7, 2004 EF3 57 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 97 km 1
May 7, 1998 EF3 87 km 0
Nov 2, 1995 EF3 19 km 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 14 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (8,427 ac, 2009).

Year Name Acres Distance
2009 UNNAMED 8,427 87 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 84 km
2009 UNNAMED 5,322 26 km
2001 UNNAMED 3,481 62 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 76 km
1991 UNNAMED 3,094 94 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,968 85 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 73 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,796 95 km
2008 UNNAMED 2,711 96 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 68 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,654 96 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 89 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 67 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 90 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 84 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,330 87 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 67 km
2018 UNNAMED 2,262 85 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 46°F (8°C) 4.5 in Coldest
February 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
March 56°F (13°C) 4.5 in
April 63°F (17°C) 2.8 in Driest
May 71°F (22°C) 3.2 in
June 78°F (25°C) 4.7 in
July 82°F (28°C) 5.1 in Warmest, Wettest
August 80°F (27°C) 4.7 in
September 75°F (24°C) 3.8 in
October 64°F (18°C) 3.0 in
November 55°F (13°C) 2.9 in
December 47°F (9°C) 3.3 in

West Columbia has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 46°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.1") and April the driest (2.8").

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