Columbia

Population: 138,019
Median household income: $55,653
Median home value: $243,500

Columbia is a community in Richland County, South Carolina, home to 138,019 residents. Its median household income of $55,653 runs below the Richland County figure of $61,699.

Between 2019 and 2023, Columbia's population grew 3.6% from 133,273 to 138,019, while its median home value rose 34.5% from $181,100 to $243,500.

The largest age group is 18 to 24, 25.5% of residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 47.9% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 138,019
Median age: 28.7 yrs
Median household income: $55,653
Median home value: $243,500
Median gross rent: $1,158
Housing units: 60,568
Homeownership rate: 47.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 46.1%
Unemployment rate: 7.6%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

133,273138,019

Median household income

$47,286$55,653

Median home value

$181,100$243,500

Median gross rent

$933$1,158

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	133,273	$47,286	$181,100	$933
2020	134,057	$47,416	$186,000	$956
2021	137,276	$48,791	$193,100	$1,007
2022	136,754	$54,095	$226,200	$1,105
2023	138,019	$55,653	$243,500	$1,158

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.4%

5 to 1711.7%

18 to 2425.5%

25 to 3417.6%

35 to 4410.9%

45 to 549.5%

55 to 648.5%

65 to 746.8%

75 and over4.2%

	Count	Share
Under 5	7,412	5.4%
5 to 17	16,165	11.7%
18 to 24	35,213	25.5%
25 to 34	24,242	17.6%
35 to 44	15,067	10.9%
45 to 54	13,070	9.5%
55 to 64	11,663	8.5%
65 to 74	9,365	6.8%
75 and over	5,822	4.2%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	66,120	47.9%
Black or African American	53,818	39.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	170	0.1%
Asian	3,564	2.6%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	279	0.2%
Some other race	639	0.5%
Two or more races	5,587	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7,842	5.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma9.1%

High school graduate19.2%

Some college or associate's25.5%

Bachelor's degree25.2%

Graduate or professional degree20.9%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	7,213	9.1%
High school graduate	15,240	19.2%
Some college or associate's	20,224	25.5%
Bachelor's degree	19,986	25.2%
Graduate or professional degree	16,566	20.9%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 17 min

Drove alone62.9%

Carpooled6.9%

Public transit1.4%

Walked16.4%

Bicycle0.3%

Worked from home9.8%

Other means2.2%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	43,954	62.9%
Carpooled	4,828	6.9%
Public transit	1,011	1.4%
Walked	11,477	16.4%
Bicycle	234	0.3%
Worked from home	6,866	9.8%
Other means	1,548	2.2%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	29,732	47.2%
15 to 29 min	23,371	37.1%
30 to 44 min	6,334	10.0%
45 to 59 min	1,727	2.7%
60+ min	1,888	3.0%

Households

Average household size: 2.16
Poverty rate: 23.3% (26,148 of 112,456)

	Count	Share
Family households	24,696	47.7%
Nonfamily households	27,088	52.3%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1978

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	51,784	85.5%
Vacant	8,784	14.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	24,477	47.3%
Renter-occupied	27,307	52.7%

1-unit, detached51.3%

1-unit, attached6.1%

2 to 4 units10.3%

5 to 19 units14.6%

20 or more units16.6%

Mobile home & other1.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	31,068	51.3%
1-unit, attached	3,714	6.1%
2 to 4 units	6,267	10.3%
5 to 19 units	8,829	14.6%
20 or more units	10,055	16.6%
Mobile home & other	635	1.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 4516000
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 138 sq mi
Water area: 2.86 sq mi
Center point: 34.0405, -80.9061