The Town FilesWest Columbia, South Carolina
City in Lexington County · population 17,416 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,700
- Household income
- $56,912
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.6
West Columbia is a city of 17,416 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $201,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 97% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 96% of South Carolina towns.
How West 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 West Columbia is worth $201,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,912, which is more affordable than 49% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,201 a month. 55.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Columbia | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,201 | $937 |
| Median household income | $56,912 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.3% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in West Columbia
| People | West Columbia | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in West Columbia
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Columbia since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 16, 1994 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 1984.
Severe weather in Lexington County since 1996
Lexington County has been included in 25 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 Lexington County
Lexington County had 132,596 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in West Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in West Columbia
14 public schools with 8,977 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport High | 9-12 | 1,338 | 18.6 |
| Riverbank Elementary | PK-5 | 1,002 | 14.7 |
| Herbert A. Wood Elementary | PK-5 | 962 | 14.8 |
| Gray Collegiate Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 869 | 23.5 |
| East Point Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 752 | 13.7 |
| White Knoll Middle | 6-8 | 696 | 11.4 |
| White Knoll Elementary | PK-5 | 607 | 11.9 |
| R. H. Fulmer Middle | 6-8 | 548 | 12.5 |
| Northside Middle | 6-8 | 496 | 13.1 |
| Springdale Elementary | PK-5 | 445 | 16.5 |
| Saluda River Academy for the Arts | K-5 | 390 | 12.2 |
| Pine Ridge Middle | 6-8 | 384 | 12.8 |
Towns near West Columbia
- Springdale, SC2.2 mi · 2,744 people · home $221,700
- Oak Grove, SC3.0 mi · 12,899 people · home $210,300
- St. Andrews, SC4.2 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- Cayce, SC4.4 mi · 13,781 people · home $166,800
- Seven Oaks, SC4.5 mi · 14,652 people · home $208,400
- Lexington, SC7.0 mi · 23,568 people · home $297,700
- Forest Acres, SC7.8 mi · 10,617 people · home $279,300
- Red Bank, SC8.8 mi · 10,924 people · home $189,000
West Columbia questions
Is West Columbia, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Columbia scores better for retirees than 65% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in West Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in West Columbia is valued at $201,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,912, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,201 a month.
What is the weather like in West Columbia?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does West Columbia get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 16, 1994. 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)