Columbia, South Carolina Housing Market Prices
Columbia Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 35% below the South Carolina median$154,763
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Median rent 1% above the South Carolina median$1,190
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Columbia | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $154,763 | $239,609 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.4% | 8.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,190 | $1,179 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Columbia is about 35% lower than in South Carolina. Rent is about 1% higher than the South Carolina average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Columbia, up about 7.4% and 4.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Columbia rose about 44.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $825 to $1,190. Over the same span, rent in South Carolina rose about 49.3%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.8 yearly household incomes in Columbia.
Buying the median-priced home in Columbia costs roughly 10.8 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Columbia. The price-to-rent ratio in South Carolina is about 16.9.
| Metric | Columbia | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $154,763 | $239,609 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $55,931 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Columbia rose about 41.5%, while median household income rose about 39.3% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Columbia | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 62.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 45.0% | 24.4% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 14.3% | 13.3% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 10.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 |
Columbia has a homeownership rate of 40.7%, lower than the South Carolina average of 62.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 14.3%, compared with 13.3% in South Carolina.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Columbia | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.17 people | 2.44 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1975 | 1990 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Columbia was built around 1975. On average, 2.2 people live in a home with about 5.2 rooms, staying for about 10.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Columbia, South Carolina.
What is the median home price in Columbia, South Carolina?
The median home price in Columbia, South Carolina is $154,763, lower than the South Carolina average of $239,609.
What is the average home price in Columbia, South Carolina?
The typical home price in Columbia, South Carolina, reported as the median sale price, is $154,763. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Columbia, South Carolina?
The median gross rent in Columbia, South Carolina is $1,190 per month, higher than the South Carolina average of $1,179.
What was the median gross rent in Columbia in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Columbia, South Carolina was $955 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Columbia, South Carolina?
The price-to-rent ratio in Columbia, South Carolina is about 10.8, meaning it would take roughly 10.8 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Columbia.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Columbia, South Carolina?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Columbia, up about 7.4% and 4.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Columbia, South Carolina?
40.7% of households in Columbia, South Carolina own their home, lower than the South Carolina average of 62.3%.
What is the vacancy rate in Columbia, South Carolina?
The housing vacancy rate in Columbia, South Carolina is 14.3%, higher than the South Carolina average of 13.3%.
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