Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Columbia, SC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

138,019

Median Agei

28.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

47.9%66,120

Black

39%53,818

Hispanic/Latino

5.7%7,842

Two or More

4%5,587

Asian

2.6%3,564

Other

0.5%639

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%279

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%170

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.1%3,274

High School Diploma

15.1%11,966

Some College (<1 yr)

4.5%3,565

Some College (1+ yr)

13.7%10,831

Associate's Degree

7.4%5,828

Bachelor's Degree

25.2%19,986

Master's Degree

12.7%10,091

Professional Degree

5%3,999

Doctorate

3.1%2,476

HS or Higher

90.9%

BA or Higher

46.1%

Graduate+

20.9%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$243,500

Median Renti

$1,158

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

47.3%24,477

Renter-Occupied

52.7%27,307

Total Units

60,568

Homeownership

47.3%

Vacancy Rate

14.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

3.1%763

$50K–$100K

9.3%2,283

$100K–$150K

11.7%2,872

$150K–$200K

14.3%3,489

$200K–$300K

23.5%5,747

$300K–$500K

19.9%4,883

$500K–$1M

14.7%3,594

$1M+

3.5%846

Rent Distribution

Under $500

2,223

$500–$750

2,248

$750–$1,000

4,847

$1,000–$1,250

6,260

$1,250–$1,500

4,970

$1,500–$2,000

4,365

$2,000+

1,617

Year Built

2020 or later

1%592

2010–2019

12.9%7,798

2000–2009

14.8%8,944

1990–1999

9.8%5,963

1980–1989

9.6%5,814

1970–1979

9.6%5,810

1960–1969

10.1%6,127

1950–1959

13.3%8,035

1940–1949

8.9%5,362

1939 or earlier

10.1%6,123

Heating Fuel

Electricity

71%36,764

Utility Gas

27%13,961

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%456

No Fuel

0.9%445

Other

0.1%54

Fuel Oil

0.1%47

Solar

0.1%40

Wood

0%17

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$55,653

Mean Household Incomei

$90,935

Per Capita Incomei

$38,087

Poverty Ratei

18.9%

Unemploymenti

6.9%

Labor Forcei

76,809

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

11%5,715

$10K–$15K

5.5%2,852

$15K–$20K

3.6%1,869

$20K–$25K

5%2,601

$25K–$30K

4.1%2,108

$30K–$35K

4.1%2,117

$35K–$40K

4.2%2,186

$40K–$45K

4.1%2,122

$45K–$50K

3.4%1,761

$50K–$60K

8.3%4,311

$60K–$75K

8.4%4,349

$75K–$100K

10.7%5,551

$100K–$125K

6.8%3,539

$125K–$150K

4.8%2,502

$150K–$200K

6%3,114

$200K+

9.8%5,087

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

5,065

Residentsi

9,030

Avg. Tenant Renti

$327/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

24 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing746 homes70% occupied$406/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers780 homes90% occupied$395/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Mod Rehab29 homes79% occupied$227/mo rent

Rehabilitated buildings with project-based rental assistance

Project Based Section 81,904 homes92% occupied$269/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC97 homes100% occupied$359/mo rent

811/PRAC9 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $55,653/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

79.7%

Very low income$17K–$28K/yr

16.4%

Low income$28K–$45K/yr

3.3%

Moderate / aboveOver $45K/yr

0.6%

Who Receives This Housing

79.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

90.2% of subsidized households are minority

11.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

42.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

7,0405.1%

By Region

Top Countries

India

804

China

420

United Kingdom

287

Philippines

283

Mexico

282

Canada

194

Korea

181

Germany

162

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

69,918

Avg. Commutei

17.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

64,199

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

7,655(7.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

91.9%Insured

8.1%Uninsured