The Town FilesColumbia, South Carolina
City in Richland County · population 136,632 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $264,300
- Household income
- $55,529
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 28.6
Columbia is a city of 136,632 people in Richland County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $264,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 97% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 97% of South Carolina towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $264,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $55,529, which is more affordable than 15% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,204 a month. 45.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,204 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,529 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 45.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 31, 1987 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 227,771 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,784 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Columbia
72 public schools with 38,982 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | 9-12 | 2,314 | 18.8 |
| Ridge View High | 9-12 | 1,696 | 17.5 |
| A. C. Flora High | 9-12 | 1,334 | 16.5 |
| Richland Northeast High | 9-12 | 1,301 | 13.0 |
| E. L. Wright Middle | K-8 | 1,285 | 15.1 |
| Irmo High | 9-12 | 1,268 | 12.2 |
| Summit Parkway Middle | K-8 | 1,176 | 15.5 |
| Dreher High | 9-12 | 1,155 | 14.6 |
| Dent Middle | 6-8 | 1,035 | 11.3 |
| Crayton Middle | 6-8 | 924 | 13.2 |
| Longleaf Middle | 6-8 | 800 | 13.1 |
| Brennen Elementary | PK-5 | 792 | 14.7 |
Towns near Columbia
- Woodfield, SC1.9 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
- Dentsville, SC3.7 mi · 14,431 people · home $163,700
- Forest Acres, SC3.9 mi · 10,617 people · home $279,300
- Capitol View, SC5.2 mi · 4,653 people · home $187,600
- Cayce, SC9.9 mi · 13,781 people · home $166,800
- Hopkins, SC10.1 mi · 2,514 people · home $99,300
- St. Andrews, SC11.4 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- West Columbia, SC11.6 mi · 17,416 people · home $201,700
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 27% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.6).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $264,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,529, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,204 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 31, 1987. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)