Columbia, South Carolina is a mid-sized city with a population of 132,537 residents. Columbia is mostly populated by White (52%) and Black or African American (41%) ethnic groups. With an average age of 28 years old, Columbia could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Columbia is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in South Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Columbia and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Columbia to South Carolina and the national average.
With a livability score of 63 out of 100, Columbia is ranked #20,733 in the United States and #223 in South Carolina. If we examine each of the categories on their own, we see that Columbia ranks well for amenities (A+) and weather (B). There is at least one category that did not score well in Columbia. The following was graded with a disappointing score: crime (F), education (D-), employment (D) and housing (F).
Conveniently located amenities and interesting attractions are a great way to continuously enjoy Columbia on a regular basis. Knowing that there are an abundance of amenities and things to do can ensure that you always have access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, South Carolina State Museum, and EdVenture.
Columbia real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Columbia. Median real estate prices in Columbia come in at $164,200, which is 14.3% higher than the South Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Columbia, the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 22.6% higher than the South Carolina average. Purchasing your new home can come with many financial benefits, some of which are more lucrative than others. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The year over year appreciation rates in Columbia were 4.7%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 3.3%.
| Statistic | Columbia | South Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 15min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 64.9% | 82.8% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 5.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.7% | 0.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 21.7% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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