Columbia, SC Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 839,868 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Columbia, SC Metro Area

What is the median household income in Columbia, SC Metro Area?: The median household income in Columbia, SC Metro Area is $66,146 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Columbia, SC Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Columbia, SC Metro Area is 10.8% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Columbia, SC Metro Area?: $213,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Columbia, SC Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Columbia, SC Metro Area is $1,145 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Columbia, SC Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 35.0% of adults in Columbia, SC Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

839,868

Median Income

$66,146

Median Home Value

$213,400

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.5%

Median Age

37.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$10,175 (+18.2%) Home Value: +$59,000 (+38.2%) Poverty Rate: +0.1 pp (+0.9%) Bachelor's+: +2.3 pp (+7%) Unemployment: -0.4 pp (-6.8%)

Demographics

Total Population 839,868

Median Age 37.0

Female 51.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 6.8% White (non-Hisp.) 53.8% Black 33.3% Asian 2.3% Two or More 5.9% Other 2.7%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.9%

Chinese

0.4%

Filipino

0.3%

Korean

0.3%

Vietnamese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

3.2%

Puerto Rican

1.1%

Cuban

0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $66,146 ±$1,090

Per Capita Income $89,893

Median Family Income $84,826

Poverty Rate 10.8%

Child Poverty Rate 16.8%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 10.8%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 25.8%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

6.7%

$10–15k

3.4%

$15–25k

7.3%

$25–35k

8.1%

$35–50k

12.5%

$50–75k

17.5%

$75–100k

13.0%

$100–150k

15.8%

$150–200k

7.8%

$200k+

7.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 373,131

Owner-Occupied 69.2%

Renter-Occupied 30.8%

Vacancy Rate 10.4%

Median Home Value $213,400

Median Gross Rent $1,145

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 17.9%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 44.8%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

6.2%

$50–100k

9.5%

$100–200k

13.5%

$200–300k

25.4%

$300–500k

19.4%

$500k–$1M

7.4%

$1M+

1.7%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

5.2%

$500–1k

31.0%

$1–1.5k

41.5%

$1.5–2k

15.6%

$2–2.5k

5.0%

$2.5–3.5k

0.9%

$3.5k+

0.9%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

5.7%

1 vehicle

33.1%

2 vehicles

37.8%

23.4%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

67.0%

Single-fam. att.

3.0%

2–4 units

1.6%

5–19 units

4.3%

20+ units

5.6%

Mobile home

12.0%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

3.7%

1940–1969

2.8%

1970–1999

14.1%

2000–2009

18.3%

2010+

13.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 91.1%

Bachelor's or Higher 35.0%

Graduate Degree 14.2%

Some College / Associate 21.2%

Less Than High School 2.7%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 63.9%

Unemployment Rate 5.5%

Work from Home 9.9%

Self-Employed 5.4%

Government Workers 20.1%

Private For-Profit 74.2%

Industry

Edu/Health

23.9%

Prof. Services

11.0%

Retail

10.7%

Manufacturing

9.5%

Arts/Entmt.

8.4%

Finance

7.3%

Public Admin

7.0%

Construction

6.3%

Transportation

5.6%

Wholesale

2.3%

Information

1.6%

Agriculture

0.9%

Occupation

Management

41.6%

Sales

21.7%

Food Prep

15.7%

Production

13.3%

Construction

7.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 25.1 min

Drove Alone 76.2%

Carpool 8.1%

Public Transit 0.5%

Work from Home 9.9%

Walked 3.5%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 334,378

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 44.1%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 16.8%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.6%

5–9

6.0%

10–14

6.6%

15–19

7.5%

20–24

7.7%

25–34

13.5%

35–44

12.8%

45–54

12.1%

55–64

6.1%

65–74

6.4%

75–84

9.8%

85+

4.5%

Under 18: 22.2% Working age (18–64): 77.8% 65 and over: 15.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 5.6%

Naturalized Citizen 44.8%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 2.9%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

47.4%

Asia

31.8%

Europe

12.6%

Africa

5.5%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 9.4%

With a Disability 14.3%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 91.0%

Uninsured 9.0%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 89.0%

Has a Computer 95.3%

Same House 1 Year Ago 84.1%

Moved from Abroad 0.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023