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SC area data

Columbia, SC

Aggregated across 13 ZIP codes in Columbia.

Population: 346,894 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Columbia, SC is $247,878 — up 1.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $280,800 after a median 40 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,515/month. 78 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with icestorm, hurricane, inlandflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 6.3% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$247,878

Median home value

+1.7%

1-year change

40

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$247,878
1-year appreciation
+1.7%
3-year appreciation
+7.9%
5-year appreciation
+28.3%
10-year appreciation
+87.6%
All-time peak (2026-08)
$250,144
House Price Index (state)
453.0 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$280,800
Median list price
$272,890
Median price per sqft
$168
1-year sale-price change
+2.0%
Median days on market
40 days
Homes sold (recent period)
124
For-sale inventory
1,458
Sale-to-list ratio
98.0%
Active listings
133
1-year forecast
+1.3%
Days to pending
44 days
New listings (monthly)
419

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,515/mo
1-year rent change
+2.8%
Studio fair-market rent
$992/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,126/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,226/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,546/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,754/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
93.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
15.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.90/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
78
Elementary schools
42
Middle schools
12
High schools
19
Charter schools
7
Avg student-teacher ratio
13.2 : 1
School districts serving the area
Richland 01, Charter Institute at Erskine, Dept Of Correction N04
Schools include
Logan Elementary, Clear Dot Charter School, Manning High, Forest Heights Elementary, Arden Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, hurricane, inlandFlooding, lightning, strongWind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
hail: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively High · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Very High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 57% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
54.4%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Townsend Saw Chain Co. (3.1 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
65.8°F
Average high
77.2°F
Average low
53.6°F
Annual precipitation
48.0 in
Annual snowfall
0.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8b (extreme annual low 15 to 20°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
47
Days with Good air quality
203
Days with Moderate air quality
145
Highest AQI recorded (year)
88

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
20
Nearest national park
Congaree National Park (15 mi)
National parks include
Congaree National Park, Ninety Six National Historic Site
Airports within 30 mi
274
Nearest airport
Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) (1 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
8
Hospitals include
PRISMA HEALTH RICHLAND HOSPITAL, G WERBER BRYAN PSYCH HOSP, MUSC HEALTH COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER DOWNTOWN
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.5 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.6 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
83
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.6 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-63 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,982
Housing built before 1970
35.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
29.7%
Median annual property tax
$1,583
Mean commute to work
18 min
Households with broadband internet
81.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
175,791
Average weekly wage
$1,226
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Finance & Insurance
Annual residential building permits (county)
3,382

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ColumbiaState medianUS median
Median home value$247,878$229,613$288,527
Median sale price$280,800$290,675$325,000
Median days on market40 days80 days51 days
Typical rent$1,515/mo$1,646/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$1,583$845$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Columbia, SC?
$247,878.
What is the median sale price in Columbia, SC?
$280,800.
How long do homes take to sell in Columbia, SC?
Median days on market: 40 days.
What is typical rent in Columbia, SC?
Typical rent: $1,515/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Columbia, SC?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, hurricane, inlandFlooding, lightning, strongWind, tornado.
What is the wildfire risk in Columbia, SC?
Risk to homes is higher than 57% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Columbia, SC?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Columbia, SC?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Townsend Saw Chain Co., 3.1 mi.
How many schools serve Columbia, SC?
78 schools (42 elementary, 12 middle, 19 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
What is the air quality in Columbia, SC?
Good. Median AQI: 47. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Columbia, SC?
Regional Price Parity: 93.7 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Columbia

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents