Columbia, SC
Population 138,019 · Columbia, SC MSA. Moving to or from Columbia? Below: current climate, cost-of-living, housing, demographic, and job-market figures from public federal data.
Population
138,019
Cost of living (RPP)
93.662
Annual avg temp
64°F
Typical home
$229,068
Demographics (ACS 5-year 2023)
| Median household income | $55,653 |
| Median age | 28.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% |
| Median home value (ACS) | $243,500 |
| Median gross rent | $1,158/mo |
| Avg household size | 2.67 |
Cost of living
Regional Price Parity: 93.662 (U.S. average = 100). Rents 88.306, goods 96.339, services 79.455. Source: BEA, Columbia, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area) MSA (2024).
Climate (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
Annual avg temp
64°F
January low
33°F
July high
93°F
Annual snow
0.4"
Annual precipitation 46.3". Station: SANDHILL RSCH - ELGIN, SC US (6.6 mi away).
Housing (Zillow, 2026-03)
Typical home value (ZHVI)
$229,068
ZHVI YoY
+1.3%
Typical rent (ZORI)
$1,467/mo
ZORI YoY
+2.2%
Data provided by Zillow.
Jobs in the Columbia, SC
Total employment (MSA)
381,750
Median wage (annual)
$42,630
Top occupations by employment
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 55,750 | $38,500 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 36,270 | $32,390 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 34,570 | $35,920 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 34,100 | $25,840 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 26,320 | $73,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS.
Closest destinations
Charlotte, NC 94 mi · 2h 1m North Charleston, SC 112 mi · 2h 14m Concord, NC 113 mi · 2h 24m Charleston, SC 119 mi · 2h 27m Fayetteville, NC 166 mi · 3h 18m Winston-Salem, NC 172 mi · 3h 29m Savannah, GA 173 mi · 3h 27m High Point, NC 173 mi · 3h 33m Greensboro, NC 186 mi · 3h 45m Cary, NC 195 mi · 4h 29m