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Neighborhood report

Columbia, SC

Founded 1787Lexington CountyElev. 89 m
Population
138,019
Median home
$243,500
Disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
Public schools
79
Sex offenders
16

Overview

About Columbia

Columbia is a city in South Carolina with about 138,019 residents. Columbia was founded in 1787 and sits in Lexington County. The median age is 28.7 and the median household income is $55,653. Homes carry a median value of $243,500, and about 47% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (47.9%). Around 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 17 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
138,019
Median age
28.7
Median household income
$55,653
Per-capita income
$38,087
Poverty rate
23.3%
High-school grad or higher
90.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
46.1%
Unemployment
7.6%
Avg. commute
17.4 min
Work from home
9.8%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White47.9%
Hispanic or Latino5.7%
Black39%
Asian2.6%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts45.9%
Sales & office21.1%
Service19.1%
Production, transportation & material moving9.5%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance4.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$243,500
Median gross rent
$1,158/mo
Owner-occupied
47.3%
Median year built
1978
Households
51,784
Avg. household size
2.16

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Below average

Columbia has 79 public schools — 42 elementary, 12 middle, 19 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 15 schools
Reading31%
Math22%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

A. C. Flora HighHighGrades 9–12
Broad River HighHighGrades 9–12
C. A. Johnson HighHighGrades 9–12
Columbia HighHighGrades 9–12
Dreher HighHighGrades 9–12
Eau Claire HighHighGrades 9–12
Empowerment and Enrichment AcademyHighGrades 5–12
Irmo HighHighGrades 9–12
Kirkland HighHighGrades 9–12
Manning HighHighGrades 9–12
Richland Northeast HighHighGrades 9–12
Richland One Charter Middle CollegeHighGrades 11–12charter
Ridge View HighHighGrades 9–12
Samuel A. Heyward Career and Technology CenterHighGrades 9–12

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime99% above national
Columbia767
South Carolina478
United States386
↓ 1% lower than 2019
2019–2023
property crime79% above national
Columbia3,502
South Carolina2,249
United States1,952
↓ 34% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Columbia Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Columbia.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Moderate
Top hazards · Richland County
Ice stormVery High
HurricaneRelatively High
LightningRelatively High
Riverine floodingRelatively High
Strong windRelatively High
TornadoRelatively High

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Columbia is in Richland County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Columbia was founded in 1787 and sits in Lexington County. Elevation ~89 m.

Map of Columbia
Columbia, SC
Where Columbia is
CharlestonColumbiaNorth CharlestonMount PleasantRock HillGreenville
Historic places

117 on the National Register of Historic Places, incl. 4 National Historic Landmarks.

First Baptist ChurchSouth Carolina State Hospital, Mills BuildingHall, Ainsley, HouseChapelle Administration BuildingFair-Rutherford and Rutherford HousesFair-Rutherford and Rutherford HousesRichland Cotton MillWardlaw Junior High School
Notable people from Columbia
Stanley DonenCharles BoldenAziz AnsariJeezyJermaine O'NealAngie StoneMike ColterKelsey AsbilleCoco JonesLee Thompson Young
People searches in Columbia
Michael Smith (22)John Smith (19)James Smith (19)David Smith (17)Robert Smith (17)Michael Johnson (17)John Johnson (15)James Johnson (15)Michael Williams (14)William SmithDavid JohnsonRobert JohnsonJohn WilliamsMichael BrownMichael JonesJames WilliamsDavid WilliamsJohn BrownRobert WilliamsJohn JonesWilliam JohnsonMary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Forest Acres (4 mi)Cayce (10 mi)West Columbia (12 mi)Irmo (17 mi)Lexington (18 mi)Sumter (30 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Columbia, SC (16)

Public sex-offender registry records for Columbia, South Carolina.

Patricia Ann Jones, 73
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
Mariah Jones, 51
Columbia · Guilford County · 21787
AKA David Frank Davis, Jeremiah Smith
Eric Eugene Elgin, 55
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Eric Elgin, Eric E Elgin
Luis Lopez, 68
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
Edward Lamar Green, 40
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Edward L Green, Edward Roland Green
Edwin Manuel Rodriguez-Robles, 47
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Edward Gonzalez, Edwin M Robles
Kenneth Deangelo Campbell, 55
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Deangelo Campbell, Kenneth Campbell
Kenneth Leallen Wright, 61
Columbia · Richland County · 29203
AKA Russell Bennett, Russell Clay Bennett
Kenny Allen Harrison, 62
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Kenneth Allen Harrison, Kenny Harrison
Kenneth Earl Martin, 63
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Kenneth Martin, Kennth Earl Martin
Gaten Warren Gary, 67
Columbia · Richland County · 29203
AKA Garen Warren Gary, Gaston Warren Gary
Johnny Lee Mitchell, 62
Columbia · Richland County · 29201
AKA Jimmy Danie, Johnnie Mitchell
Raul Junior Rivera, 51
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Paul Jr Rivera, Raul Rivera
Paul James Robinson, 54
Columbia · Richland County · 29229
AKA Paul Robinson, Paul J Robinson
Paul Brown, 61
Columbia · Richland County · 29210
AKA Charlotte Brown, Johnny Brown
Paul Moody Smith, 55
Columbia · Richland County · 29209

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Columbia — frequently asked

What is the population of Columbia, South Carolina?
Columbia has a population of about 138,019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Columbia?
The median home value in Columbia is $243,500, and the median gross rent is $1,158/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Columbia safe? What is the crime rate?
Columbia Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 767 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — higher than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Columbia face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Richland County as "Relatively Moderate" overall, with top hazards including ice storm, hurricane, lightning.
How many schools are in Columbia?
Columbia has 79 public schools (42 elementary, 12 middle, 19 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Columbia?
Public registry data lists 16 registered sex offenders in or near Columbia. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
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