Columbia

Columbia, SC

South CarolinaPop. 857K#71 largest metro

Compare this city All SC metros

Median Rent

$1,169/mo

#333 most affordable

Median Income

$67,189

#274 highest income

Median Home Value

$239,600

#237 most affordable to buy

Population

857K

#71 largest metro

Cost of Living Index

BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100)

93.4COL Index

Affordable6.6% below US average

Very Affordable (≤80)US Avg (100)Very Expensive (≥130)

Housing

Relative to all 530 metros

Monthly Rent

$1,169/mo

Home Value

$239,600

Rent-to-income ratio21% of gross income

Monthly rent affordabilityModerate

Income & Economy

Household earnings data

Median Income

$67,189

Metro Population

857K

Monthly take-home (~75%)$4,199/mo

After-rent surplus (est.)$3,030/mo

National Rankings

Out of 530 metros

🏠

Affordability (rent)

#333/ 530

💰

Median Income

#274/ 530

🏡

Home Value (lowest)

#237/ 530

👥

Metro Population

#71/ 530

Education

South Carolina state-level education statistics

Graduation Rate90.2%

Per-Pupil Spending$14,884

Student-Teacher Ratio15.4:1

SAT Readiness Score1017

Bachelor's Degree %33.3%

Healthcare

South Carolina state-level healthcare access & outcomes

Physicians per 100K258

Uninsured Rate9.8%

Hospital Beds per 1K2.8

Life Expectancy76.4 yrs

Crime & Safety

Per 100,000 residents

Violent Crime Rate471/100k

Property Crime Rate2193/100k

Unemployment Rate2.9%

Crime rates are state-level averages and may not reflect this metro area specifically.

Compare Columbia with another city

Get a full side-by-side breakdown of any two metros.

Start Comparing →

Similar Cities

Metros with comparable size and economics

Columbia

Cost of Living Index

Housing

Income & Economy

National Rankings

Education

Healthcare

Crime & Safety

Compare Columbia with another city

Similar Cities

Augusta-Richmond County

Baton Rouge

Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway

Tulsa

Greensboro-High Point