Columbia, SC

Census Place

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2020 Population

134,057

0.588% 1-year growth

US Senator

Lindsey Graham

Republican Party

US Senator

Tim Scott

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

28.2

1.05% 1-year decrease

2020 Poverty Rate

22.8%

4.91% 1-year increase

2020 Median Household Income

$47,416

0.275% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$186,000

2.71% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

60,643

0.784% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Columbia, SC had a population of 134k people with a median age of 28.2 and a median household income of $47,416. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Columbia, SC grew from 133,273 to 134,057, a 0.588% increase and its median household income grew from $47,286 to $47,416, a 0.275% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, SC are White (Non-Hispanic) (48.9%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (39.1%), White (Hispanic) (3.64%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.83%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.58%).

None of the households in Columbia, SC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.7% of the residents in Columbia, SC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Columbia, SC are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,815 degrees awarded in 2020), Columbia College (217934) (387 degrees), and Columbia International University (381 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Columbia, SC was $186,000, and the homeownership rate was 47%.

Most people in Columbia, SC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 16.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Columbia, SC was 2 cars per household.

Photo by Ron Cogswell

Population & Diversity

Columbia, SC is home to a population of 134k people, from which 96.7% are citizens. As of 2020, 4.97% of Columbia, SC residents were born outside of the country (6.66k people).

In 2020, there were 1.25 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (65.6k people) in Columbia, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 52.4k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 4.89k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.7%

2020 Citizenship

96.7%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 96.7% of Columbia, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Columbia, SC was 96.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Columbia, SC

White (Non-Hispanic)
65.6k ± 1.52k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
52.4k ± 1.76k
White (Hispanic)
4.89k ± 527

5.8%

Hispanic Population

7.78k people

5.8% of the people in Columbia, SC are hispanic (7.78k people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
62,463 ± 6,098 people
India
16,261 ± 3,126 people
Honduras
12,981 ± 2,794 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 62,463 South Carolina residents, followed by India with 16,261 and Honduras with 12,981.

Foreign-Born Population

4.97%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

6.66k people

5.03%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

6.71k people

As of 2020, 4.97% of Columbia, SC residents (6.66k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Columbia, SC was 5.03%, 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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
2,567 ± 468
Vietnam
2,051 ± 450
Gulf War (1990s)
1,527 ± 379

Columbia, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.25 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Columbia, SC employs 60.6k people. The largest industries in Columbia, SC are Educational Services (8,008 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,483 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (7,017 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,704), Utilities ($52,995), and Finance & Insurance ($51,960).

Males in South Carolina have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $45,267. The income inequality in South Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.462, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

60.6k

2020 Value

± 2,021

0.784%

1 Year growth

± 4.3%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Columbia, SC grew at a rate of 0.784%, from 60.2k employees to 60.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Columbia, SC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,961 people), Sales & Related Occupations (6,905 people), and Management Occupations (5,871 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Columbia, SC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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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Industries

Employment by Industries

60.6k

2020 Value

± 2,021

0.784%

1 Year growth

± 4.3%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Columbia, SC grew at a rate of 0.784%, from 60.2k employees to 60.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Columbia, SC, are Educational Services (8,008 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,483 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (7,017 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.

Median Earnings by Industry

$33,646

Median earning men ± $2,878

$28,272

Median earning women ± $1,752

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,706), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($48,759), and Manufacturing ($47,714).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($49,545), Public Administration ($44,271), and Information ($43,958).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in South Carolina. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in South Carolina.

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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 2020, the top outbound South Carolina product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $38.2B, followed by Plastics/rubber ($32.1B) and Machinery ($26.9B).

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.

$285B

2020 Value in South Carolina

$613B

Projected 2050 Value in South Carolina

115% growth

In 2020, total outbound South Carolina trade was $285B. This is expected to increase 115% to $613B by 2050.

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
$30.1B
Georgia
$22.4B
Texas
$13.2B

In 2020, the top outbound South Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Carolina with $30.1B, followed by Georgia with $22.4B and Texas and $13.2B.

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

Civics

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.

Senators Elections

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 Elections

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.

Education

In 2020, universities in Columbia, SC awarded 11,556 degrees. The student population of Columbia, SC in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 18,197 male students and 24,285 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Columbia, SC are White (7,905 and 72.1%), followed by Black or African American (1,656 and 15.1%), Hispanic or Latino (499 and 4.55%), and Two or More Races (385 and 3.51%).

The largest universities in Columbia, SC by number of degrees awarded are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,815 and 84.9%), Columbia College (217934) (387 and 3.35%), and Columbia International University (381 and 3.3%).

The most popular majors in Columbia, SC are General Finance (536 and 4.64%), General Business Administration & Management (533 and 4.61%), and Other Public Health (399 and 3.45%).

The median tuition costs in Columbia, SC are $14,600 for private four year colleges, and $12,288 and $33,528 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Columbia, SC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 69.2%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 42,482 (42.8% men and 57.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 42,482 students enrolled in Columbia, SC, 42.8% men and 57.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 27,210 records, of which 56.2% were women and 43.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Finance
536 degree-majors awarded
Other Public Health
399 degree-majors awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
374 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Columbia, SC was General Finance with 536 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of South Carolina-Columbia
9,815 degrees awarded
Columbia College (217934)
387 degrees awarded
Columbia International University
381 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of South Carolina-Columbia with 9,815 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 4,675 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Columbia, SC, which is 0.679 times less than the 6,881 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 7,905 degrees mean that there were 4.77 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,656 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($14,600) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($800) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,129) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2020, 0.763% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.689% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (1.19M), Some college (911k), and Bachelors Degree (677k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Columbia, SC was $186,000 in 2020, which is 0.809 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $181,100 to $186,000, a 2.71% increase. The homeownership rate in Columbia, SC is 47%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Columbia, SC have an average commute time of 16.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Columbia, SC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Columbia, SC is $47,416. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Columbia, SC was Census Tract 23 with a value of $152,375, followed by Census Tract 12 and Census Tract 24, with respective values of $111,429 and $96,250.

Housing

Property

$186,000

Median Property Value 2020

±$6,852

$22,231

Median Property Taxes

±$1,120

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units 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 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Columbia, SC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

47%

Homeownership

2020

68.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 47% of the housing units in Columbia, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 46%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Columbia, SC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 23
Census Tract 12
Census Tract 24

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Columbia, SC was Census Tract 23 with a value of $152,375, followed by Census Tract 12 and Census Tract 24, with respective values of $111,429 and $96,250.

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

Household Income

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

$47,416

Median Household Income

± $2,169

47.3k

Number of Households

± 1,692

In 2020, the median household income of the 47.3k households in Columbia, SC grew to $47,416 from the previous year's value of $47,286.

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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

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

0.462

2020 Wage GINI in South Carolina

0.461

2019 Wage GINI in South Carolina

In 2020, the income inequality in South Carolina was 0.462 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.305% growth from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for South Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (63.4%)
Walked (22%)
Carpooled (5.77%)

In 2020, 63.4% of workers in Columbia, SC drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (22%) and those who carpooled to work (5.77%).

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.

Commute Time

16.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Columbia, SC have a shorter commute time (16.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.24% 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.

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.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

22.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Columbia, SC (24.1k out of 106k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

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

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.

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.

Health

91.6% of the population of Columbia, SC has health coverage, with 49.5% on employee plans, 15.6% on Medicaid, 7.03% on Medicare, 15.3% on non-group plans, and 4.21% 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 Richland County, SC see 1178 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.29% increase from the previous year (1163 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1091 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 291 patients per year.

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.

Y-Axis

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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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Richland County, SC.

1,178 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Richland County, SC

Primary care physicians in Richland County, SC see an average of 1,178 patients per year. This represents a 1.29% increase from the previous year (1,163 patients).

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

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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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.3% under 18 years, 34.7% between 18 and 34 years, 30.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 11.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.4% were men and 53.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.4%

Uninsured

49.5%

Employer Coverage

15.6%

Medicaid

7.03%

Medicare

15.3%

Non-Group

4.21%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Columbia, SC declined by 4.61% from 8.81% to 8.4%.

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.