City · South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, city, mostly in Richland County (99.6% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Lexington County, South Carolina. Columbia had 147,035 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 136,632 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 139,643 (±171). GEOID 4516000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
147,035
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 136,632 · ACS 2020-2024: 139,643 ±171
Median household income
$55,529
±$1,827 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$264,300
±$11,700 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,204
±$28 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Columbia and what county is it in?
Columbia is a city mostly in Richland County (99.6% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Lexington County, South Carolina. It covers 138.5 square miles of land, 987 residents per square mile in 2020.
Columbia is in the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Richland County | 136,045 | 99.6% |
| Lexington County | 587 | 0.4% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Columbia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 147,035 people lived in Columbia on July 1, 2025, up 7.5% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 136,632 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 139,643 (±171).
| Measure | Columbia | Richland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 139,643 ±171 | 422,117 | +6,370 |
| Households | 53,076 ±1,243 | 167,961 | +5,914 |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.05 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 62,021 ±1,078 | 187,611 | +6,866 |
Columbia's population since 2000
From 116,278 in 2000 to 147,035 in 2025: up 26.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Columbia as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbia?
The median resident of Columbia is 28.6 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 11.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 45.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 40.1%. 5.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Columbia | Richland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 ±0.6 | 34.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.0% ±0.9 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.5% ±0.6 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±0.9 pts | 48.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.2% ±0.7 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 45.7% ±1.5 pts | 39.4% | −3.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 40.1% ±1.7 pts | 46.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±0.6 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±0.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.8% ±0.7 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.7% ±0.8 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1% ±0.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.3% ±0.8 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.7% ±0.9 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.2% ±0.8 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.9% ±2.0 pts | 40.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.5% ±1.5 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 68.6% ±1.6 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 10.7% ±1.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Columbia earn?
Half of Columbia's 53,076 households earn less than $55,529 a year (±$1,827), against $63,784 in Richland County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $58,195 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Columbia | Richland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,529 ±$1,827 | $63,784 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $92,588 ±$3,943 | $90,966 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,058 ±$1,795 | $37,859 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 24.0% ±2.1 pts | 17.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.8% ±4.3 pts | 22.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.7% ±1.3 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.7% ±0.6 pts | 96.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.5% ±1.3 pts | 90.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Columbia?
Owners occupy 45.5% of Columbia's occupied homes and renters 54.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,300 by its owner (±$11,700). The median renter pays $1,204 a month including utilities, and 51.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Columbia | Richland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $264,300 ±$11,700 | $242,800 | +$41,421 |
| Median gross rent | $1,204 ±$28 | $1,228 | +$56 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.5% ±3.4 pts | 49.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,621 ±$62 | $1,533 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 45.5% ±1.9 pts | 60.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 54.5% ±1.9 pts | 39.7% | – |
| Housing units | 62,021 ±1,078 | 187,611 | +6,866 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4% ±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.8% ±1.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 49.5% ±1.7 pts | 63.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.9% ±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.8% ±1.3 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.8% ±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.5% ±1.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Columbia building?
Builders took permits for 1,956 new housing units in Columbia in 2025 (910 in single-family houses), 13.3 per 1,000 residents against 8.2 across South Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Columbia work and get to work?
63.0% of Columbia's workers drive alone and 11.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.
| Measure | Columbia | Richland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.7% ±1.3 pts | 64.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.5% ±1.2 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 63.0% ±1.7 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.3% ±1.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 14.3% ±1.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.6% ±1.4 pts | 12.5% | +8.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.7 min ±0.9 | 23.1 min | +1.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Columbia?
38 census tracts lie mostly in Columbia, and 36 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $14,945 (Tract 109) to $199,375 (Tract 23).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 115.01Richland County | 7,848 | not published |
| Tract 24Richland County | 4,828 | $106,875 |
| Tract 28Richland County | 7,692 | $23,670 |
| Tract 116.07Richland County | 6,508 | $72,940 |
| Tract 29Richland County | 4,396 | $48,676 |
| Tract 104.08Richland County | 4,179 | not published |
| Tract 116.03Richland County | 4,774 | $93,227 |
| Tract 26.05Richland County | 5,456 | $42,130 |
| Tract 116.04Richland County | 6,436 | $96,150 |
| Tract 25Richland County | 3,674 | $92,196 |
| Tract 103.04Richland County | 7,765 | $50,000 |
| Tract 11Richland County | 3,974 | $54,245 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Columbia) · Census block assignment files
How does Columbia compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Columbia is the 193rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Columbia ranks 122nd of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 43rd | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 126th | 261 |
| Median household income | 122nd | 248 |
| Per capita income | 66th | 259 |
| Median home value | 65th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 65th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 81st | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33rd | 226 |
| Median age | 243rd | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 231st | 258 |
| Work from home | 67th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 247th | 261 |
Columbia's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Columbia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Columbia?
2 of the 57 figures for Columbia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Columbia.