Economy, jobs and prices in Columbia, South Carolina: official figures
The median household income in Columbia was $55,529 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 86th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the South Carolina median $69,324.
What is the per capita income in Columbia?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Columbia averaged $39,058 a year in 2020-2024, 374th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; South Carolina: $39,236).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Columbia?
Columbia's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.555 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 11th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Columbia, South Carolina?
7.5% of the civilian labor force in Columbia was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (5,297 people), 122nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and South Carolina's 4.9%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Columbia have jobs?
65,501 residents of Columbia held civilian jobs, 55.0% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 6,200 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Columbia?
The largest industry group for working residents of Columbia was education, health care and social assistance (27.5% of employed residents), followed by arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (12.8%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (11.9%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Columbia work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 5.6% of working residents of Columbia, 133rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.9% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Columbia, South Carolina?
Commuters in Columbia took 17.7 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 60th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 2.7% travelled an hour or more and 45.4% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Columbia get to work?
11.6% of workers living in Columbia worked from home in 2020-2024, 295th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 63.0% drove to work alone, 7.3% carpooled, 1.0% used public transport and 14.3% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Columbia, South Carolina?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Columbia was $1,204 a month in 2020-2024, 202nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; South Carolina: $1,180).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Columbia?
Owner-occupied homes in Columbia had a median value of $264,300 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 219th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; South Carolina: $259,000).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Columbia?
The median home value in Columbia was 4.8 times the median household income, 393rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Columbia have no internet?
7.4% of households in Columbia (3,931) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 166th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 8.8% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Columbia compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 738 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 735 | Galveston | $55,631 |
| 736 | Hialeah | $55,594 |
| 737 | Rocky Mount | $55,534 |
| 738 | Columbia | $55,529 |
| 739 | Hammond | $55,504 |
| 740 | Allentown | $55,494 |
| 741 | Augusta | $55,485 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 450 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 447 | Fayetteville | $39,241 |
| 448 | West Covina | $39,202 |
| 449 | Lawrence | $39,194 |
| 450 | Columbia | $39,058 |
| 451 | Lodi | $39,044 |
| 452 | DeSoto | $39,003 |
| 453 | Brooklyn Park | $38,978 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 11 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Atlanta | 0.557 |
| 9 | Miami | 0.556 |
| 10 | Greenville | 0.556 |
| 11 | Columbia | 0.555 |
| 12 | New Orleans | 0.553 |
| 13 | New York | 0.552 |
| 14 | Palm Beach Gardens | 0.549 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 122 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | Peoria | 7.5% |
| 120 | Colton | 7.5% |
| 121 | Kissimmee | 7.5% |
| 122 | Columbia | 7.5% |
| 123 | Lancaster | 7.5% |
| 124 | South Gate | 7.4% |
| 125 | Antioch | 7.4% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 479 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 476 | Urban Honolulu | 64.8% |
| 477 | Kenner | 64.7% |
| 478 | Knoxville | 64.7% |
| 479 | Columbia | 64.7% |
| 480 | Chino | 64.7% |
| 481 | Escondido | 64.7% |
| 482 | Racine | 64.7% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 764 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 761 | Bowling Green | 17.8 |
| 762 | Yakima | 17.8 |
| 763 | Decatur | 17.7 |
| 764 | Columbia | 17.7 |
| 765 | Springfield | 17.6 |
| 766 | Sioux City | 17.5 |
| 767 | Bloomington | 17.5 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 529 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 526 | Parma | 11.7% |
| 527 | Peoria | 11.6% |
| 528 | Fairfield | 11.6% |
| 529 | Columbia | 11.6% |
| 530 | Yonkers | 11.6% |
| 531 | Kannapolis | 11.6% |
| 532 | Rock Hill | 11.6% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 439 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 436 | Rocky Mount | 1.0% |
| 437 | Diamond Bar | 1.0% |
| 438 | Lakewood | 1.0% |
| 439 | Columbia | 1.0% |
| 440 | Omaha | 1.0% |
| 441 | Saratoga Springs | 1.0% |
| 442 | Indio | 1.0% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 691 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 688 | Davie | 5.6% |
| 689 | Porterville | 5.6% |
| 690 | Bozeman | 5.6% |
| 691 | Columbia | 5.6% |
| 692 | Pittsburg | 5.6% |
| 693 | Richmond | 5.5% |
| 694 | Hartford | 5.5% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 135 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Hoover | 27.6% |
| 133 | Great Falls | 27.6% |
| 134 | McAllen | 27.5% |
| 135 | Columbia | 27.5% |
| 136 | Bellingham | 27.4% |
| 137 | Temple | 27.4% |
| 138 | Grand Junction | 27.4% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 622 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 619 | Killeen | $1,208 |
| 620 | Pawtucket | $1,208 |
| 621 | Waukegan | $1,205 |
| 622 | Columbia | $1,204 |
| 623 | Gastonia | $1,204 |
| 624 | Bloomington | $1,200 |
| 625 | Delano | $1,199 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 605 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 602 | Kentwood | $268,200 |
| 603 | Tucson | $266,200 |
| 604 | Joliet | $265,800 |
| 605 | Columbia | $264,300 |
| 606 | Lincoln | $264,000 |
| 607 | Clarksville | $263,600 |
| 608 | Blue Springs | $263,100 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 390 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 387 | Plainfield | 4.8x |
| 388 | Madison | 4.8x |
| 389 | Pawtucket | 4.8x |
| 390 | Columbia | 4.8x |
| 391 | Yakima | 4.7x |
| 392 | Porterville | 4.7x |
| 393 | Clifton | 4.7x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 696 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 693 | Salt Lake City | 45.8% |
| 694 | Schenectady | 45.6% |
| 695 | Revere | 45.6% |
| 696 | Columbia | 45.5% |
| 697 | Birmingham | 45.5% |
| 698 | Ann Arbor | 45.5% |
| 699 | Conway | 45.4% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 696 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 693 | Bethlehem | 88.5% |
| 694 | Taylor | 88.5% |
| 695 | Buffalo | 88.5% |
| 696 | Columbia | 88.5% |
| 697 | Winston-Salem | 88.4% |
| 698 | Pocatello | 88.4% |
| 699 | Hamilton | 88.4% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 166 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 163 | Watsonville | 7.5% |
| 164 | Waukegan | 7.4% |
| 165 | Lawton | 7.4% |
| 166 | Columbia | 7.4% |
| 167 | Midwest City | 7.4% |
| 168 | Montgomery | 7.4% |
| 169 | Madera | 7.4% |
More on Columbia: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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