Columbia, SC

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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Population

833,165

0.989% 1-year growth

US Senator

Lindsey Graham

Republican Party

US Senator

Tim Scott

Republican Party

Median Age

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Median Household Income

$53,765

1.31% 1-year decline

Median Property Value

$156,800

0.128% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

389,276

0.359% 1-year decline

About

In 2018, Columbia, SC had a population of 833k people with a median age of 37 and a median household income of $53,765. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Columbia, SC grew from 825,004 to 833,165, a 0.989% increase and its median household income declined from $54,480 to $53,765, a -1.31% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, SC are White (Non-Hispanic) (56.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (32.7%), White (Hispanic) (3.05%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.73%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.2%). NaNk% of the people in Columbia, SC speak a non-English language, and 97.5% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbia, SC are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,467 degrees awarded in 2017), Midlands Technical College (2,345 degrees), and Columbia College (217934) (419 degrees).

The median property value in Columbia, SC is $156,800, and the homeownership rate is 67.1%. Most people in Columbia, SC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 24.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbia, SC is 2 cars per household.

Columbia, SC borders Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, Florence, SC, Greenwood, SC, Newberry, SC, Orangeburg, SC, Spartanburg, SC, and Sumter, SC.

About the photo: State Capitol Grounds, Columbia, SC

Photo by Ron Cogswell

United States South Carolina

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for South Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in South Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of South Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in South Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 54.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (40.7%), followed by Gary Johnson (2.34%). The most partisan county was Allendale County, SC with 76.1% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing the state of South Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Columbia, SC. Showing the available data for South Carolina.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (54.9%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (40.7%)
Democratic Party
Gary Johnson (2.34%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in South Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of South Carolina.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for South Carolina

54.9% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in South Carolina

Allendale County, SC
76.1% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Pickens County, SC
73.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Oconee County, SC
71.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in South Carolina was Allendale County, SC with 76.1% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in South Carolina colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from South Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Lindsey Graham

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2003

Tim Scott

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2013
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Jim DeMint.

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing South Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from South Carolina

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for South Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Columbia, SC is home to a population of 833k people, from which 97.5% are citizens. As of 2018, 4.87% of Columbia, SC residents were born outside of the country (40.6k people).

In 2018, there were 1.72 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (469k people) in Columbia, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 273k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 25.4k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, SC

White (Non-Hispanic)
469k ± 2.51k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
273k ± 5.8k
White (Hispanic)
25.4k ± 3.26k

5.57%

Hispanic Population

46.4k people

5.57% of the people in Columbia, SC are hispanic (46.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Columbia, SC as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

4.87%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

40.6k people

2017 Foreign-Born Population

41.2k people

As of 2018, 4.87% of Columbia, SC residents (40.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbia, SC was 5%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Columbia, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.4

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.9

In 2018, the median age of all people in Columbia, SC was 37. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 37, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 43. But people in Columbia, SC are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Columbia, SC residents was 37.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
62,118 ± 6,082 people
India
17,415 ± 3,234 people
Germany
13,326 ± 2,830 people

In 2018, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 62,118 South Carolina residents, followed by India with 17,415 and Germany with 13,326.

Citizenship

97.5%

2018 Citizenship

97.1%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 97.5% of Columbia, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Columbia, SC was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Columbia, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
20,090 ± 1,618
Gulf War (2001-)
16,227 ± 2,607
Gulf War (1990s)
10,780 ± 1,749

Columbia, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.24 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Columbia, SC is $53,765. In 2018, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Columbia, SC was Dorchester County, SC with a value of $66,438, followed by Beaufort County, SC and York County, SC, with respective values of $65,607 and $64,319.

Males in South Carolina have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $44,129. The income inequality in South Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.464, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Columbia, SC employs 389k people. The largest industries in Columbia, SC are Health Care & Social Assistance (54,364 people), Retail Trade (45,083 people), and Educational Services (40,744 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($70,490), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($60,037), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($50,983).

Wages

Median Household Income

$53,765

2018 value

± $2,137

-1.31%

1 Year Growth

± 5.29%

Households in Columbia, SC have a median annual income of $53,765, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $54,480 in 2017, which represents a -1.31% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Columbia, SC compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

$59,728

Average Male Salary in South Carolina

± $1,565

$44,129

Average Female Salary in South Carolina

± $1,115

In 2018, full-time male employees in South Carolina made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in South Carolina by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in South Carolina

Asian
$58,374 ± $10,504
White
$51,299 ± $1,155
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
$40,072 ± $12,512

In 2018 the highest paid race/ethnicity of South Carolina workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.14 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in South Carolina.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in South Carolina by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Columbia, SC is from South Carolina.

0.464

2018 Wage GINI in South Carolina

0.466

2017 Wage GINI in South Carolina

In 2018, the income inequality in South Carolina was 0.464 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.279% decline from 2017 to 2018, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for South Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2018, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Columbia, SC was Dorchester County, SC with a value of $66,438, followed by Beaufort County, SC and York County, SC, with respective values of $65,607 and $64,319.

The following map shows all of the counties in Columbia, SC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

15.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbia, SC (119k out of 782k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Males 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

Black
55,585 ± 1,841
White
50,522 ± 1,646
Hispanic
11,052 ± 830

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Columbia, SC is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

389k

2018 Value

± 11,378

-0.359%

1 Year decline

± 4.05%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Columbia, SC declined at a rate of -0.359%, from 391k employees to 389k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbia, SC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (47,068 people), Sales & Related Occupations (41,282 people), and Management Occupations (37,719 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbia, SC.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Columbia, SC, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (47,068 people), Sales & Related Occupations (41,282 people), and Management Occupations (37,719 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other MSAs, Columbia, SC has an unusually high number of residents working as Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (1.35 times higher than expected), Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (1.17 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.14 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Columbia, SC, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($70,779), Management Occupations ($62,468), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($62,020).

Industries

Employment by Industries

389k

2018 Value

± 11,378

-0.359%

1 Year decline

± 4.05%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Columbia, SC declined at a rate of -0.359%, from 391k employees to 389k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbia, SC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (54,364 people), Retail Trade (45,083 people), and Educational Services (40,744 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Columbia, SC, though some of these residents may live in Columbia, SC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Columbia, SC, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (54,364 people), Retail Trade (45,083 people), and Educational Services (40,744 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other MSAs, Columbia, SC has an unusually high number of Utilities (1.58 times higher than expected), Public Administration (1.49 times), and Educational Services (1.14 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Columbia, SC, by median earnings, are Utilities ($70,490), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($60,037), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($50,983).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina product (by dollars) was Plastics/rubber with $15.9B, followed by Machinery ($15.2B) and Mixed freight ($11.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound South Carolina products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for South Carolina.

$163B

2015 Value in South Carolina

$244B

Projected 2045 Value in South Carolina

49.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound South Carolina trade was $163B. This is expected to increase 49.4% to $244B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound South Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

North Carolina
$22.2B
Georgia
$13.4B
Tennessee
$5.71B

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Carolina with $22.2B, followed by Georgia with $13.4B and Tennessee and $5.71B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that South Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

Education

In 2017, universities in Columbia, SC awarded 14,477 degrees. The student population of Columbia, SC is skewed towards women, with 22,529 male students and 31,050 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbia, SC are White (9,299 and 66.2%), followed by Black or African American (3,143 and 22.4%), Hispanic or Latino (537 and 3.83%), and Two or More Races (352 and 2.51%).

The largest universities in Columbia, SC by number of degrees awarded are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,467 and 65.4%), Midlands Technical College (2,345 and 16.2%), and Columbia College (217934) (419 and 2.89%).

The most popular majors in Columbia, SC are General Business Administration & Management (739 and 5.1%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (554 and 3.83%), and Registered Nursing (530 and 3.66%).

The median tuition costs in Columbia, SC are $17,714 for private four year colleges, and $11,462 and $31,562 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
483 degree-majorss awarded
General Finance
477 degree-majorss awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
434 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Columbia, SC was General Business Administration & Management with 483 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Columbia, SC according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of South Carolina-Columbia
9,467 degrees awarded
Midlands Technical College
2,345 degrees awarded
Columbia College (217934)
419 degrees awarded

$11,462

Median In-State Public

$17,714

Median Private

In 2017, the Columbia, SC institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of South Carolina-Columbia with 9,467 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

5,853

Degrees Awarded to Men

8,624

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 5,853 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbia, SC, which is 0.679 times less than the 8,624 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Columbia, SC by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
9,299 degrees awarded
Black or African American
3,143 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
537 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Columbia, SC were to White students. These 9,299 degrees mean that there were 2.96 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 3,143 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Columbia, SC was $156,800 in 2018, which is 0.683 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $156,600 to $156,800, a 0.128% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbia, SC is 67.1%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Columbia, SC have an average commute time of 24.1 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Columbia, SC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$156,800

2018 Median

± $3,052

$156,600

2017 Median

± $2,809

In 2018, the median property value in Columbia, SC grew to to $156,800 from the previous year's value of $156,600.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Columbia, SC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Columbia, SC the largest share of households have a property value in the $150k - $175k range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,765

Median Household Income

± $2,137

315k

Number of Households

± 9,509

In 2018, the median household income of the 315k households in Columbia, SC declined from $53,765 from the previous year's value of $54,480.

The following chart displays the households in Columbia, SC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Columbia, SC distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Columbia, SC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

Rent vs Own

67.1%

2018 Homeownership

67.7%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 67.1% of the housing units in Columbia, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 67.7%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Columbia, SC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

24.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbia, SC have a shorter commute time (24.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.7 minutes). Additionally, 2.15% of the workforce in Columbia, SC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Columbia, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
80.5%
Carpooled
8.9%
Walked
4.09%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Columbia, SC was Drove Alone (80.5%), followed by those who Carpooled (8.9%) and those who Walked (4.09%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Columbia, SC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Columbia, SC have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

Health

90% of the population of Columbia, SC has health coverage, with 46.8% on employee plans, 15.1% on Medicaid, 9.54% on Medicare, 14.7% on non-group plans, and 3.92% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in South Carolina was $7,311 in 2014. This is a 4.15% increase from the previous year ($7,020).

Primary care physicians in South Carolina see 1483 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.336% decrease from the previous year (1488 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1891 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 639 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Dillon County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (20.1%). Additionally, Lee County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (42.8%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

1,483 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in South Carolina

Primary care physicians in South Carolina see an average of 1,483 patients per year. This represents a 0.336% decrease from the previous year (1,488 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in South Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

$7,311

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in South Carolina

$4,235

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,491

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,298

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in South Carolina (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.15%, from $7,020 to $7,311.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

9.97%

Uninsured

46.8%

Employer Coverage

15.1%

Medicaid

9.54%

Medicare

14.7%

Non-Group

3.92%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbia, SC grew by 14.4% from 8.72% to 9.97%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Columbia, SC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.