Columbia, SC — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 138,019 · South Carolina · Updated May 2026
Population
138,019
Median Income
$55,653
Home Price
$229,993
Unemployment
7.6%
Poverty Rate
23.3%
Bachelor's+
46.1%
Full Demographics — Columbia, SC
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 138,019 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 5.1% | 13.8% | |
| White | 49.9% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 39.5% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 2.7% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 5.7% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $55,653 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $38,087 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $54,550 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 23.3% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 46.1% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $229,993 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.3% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.4% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.2% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 13.2% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 17.7% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.7°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.3 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Columbia, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 18.6 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Columbia with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Columbia, SC
Columbia is a city in South Carolina, United States. With a population of 138,019, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Columbia shows stronger educational attainment (46.1% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and commute time (19 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg). However, the city has a higher household income at $55,653 median HH income, compared to the US average of $74,580 median HH income. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.