Columbia, SC
Census place 4516000 · pop 139,643
The capital and largest city of South Carolina, partially burned during Sherman's 1865 march.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.55 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
45.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
24.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$55,529 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
13.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
34.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$264,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
23.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,460/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
45.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.64% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
18 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Columbia: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Columbia, SC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Columbia scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is income inequality. South Carolina overall ranks #21 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Columbia, SC expensive to live in?
- Columbia has a median home value of $264,300 and typical rent around $1,460/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Columbia, SC?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.55) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Columbia, SC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (18 min) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The capital and largest city of South Carolina, partially burned during Sherman's 1865 march.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.