SC area data
West Columbia, SC
Aggregated across 3 ZIP codes in West Columbia.
Population: 51,868 (Census ACS)
The median home value in West Columbia, SC is $230,343 — up 1.0% over the past year. Typical rent runs $1,600/month. 15 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with icestorm, lightning, strongwind the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 9.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$230,343
Median home value
+1.0%
1-year change
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $230,343
- 1-year appreciation
- +1.0%
- 3-year appreciation
- +6.8%
- 5-year appreciation
- +30.8%
- 10-year appreciation
- +88.8%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $231,698
- House Price Index (state)
- 444.0 (+2.0% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- For-sale inventory
- 207
- 1-year forecast
- +1.6%
- Days to pending
- 49 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 64
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,600/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +4.3%
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 90.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 15.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.90/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 15
- Elementary schools
- 7
- Middle schools
- 4
- High schools
- 3
- Charter schools
- 4
- School districts serving the area
- Lexington 02, SC Public Charter School District, Charter Institute at Erskine
- Schools include
- Saluda River Academy for the Arts, Northside Middle, Riverbank Elementary, East Point Academy, South Carolina Virtual Charter School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, tornado, coldWave
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · hurricane: Relatively Moderate
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 53% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 54.4%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 3
- Nearest Superfund site
- SCRDI Dixiana (1.5 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 65.0°F
- Average high
- 76.0°F
- Average low
- 54.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 46.8 in
- Annual snowfall
- 1.2 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8b (extreme annual low 15 to 20°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 41
- Days with Good air quality
- 96
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 53
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 77
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 6
- Nearest national park
- Congaree National Park (21 mi)
- National parks include
- Congaree National Park, Ninety Six National Historic Site
- Airports within 30 mi
- 67
- Nearest airport
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) (1 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) (1 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 365
- Hospitals include
- LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER, THREE RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MUSC HEALTH COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER DOWNTOWN
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.1 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 53
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.6 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +1,200 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,983
- Housing built before 1970
- 22.9%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 28.4%
- Median annual property tax
- $924
- Mean commute to work
- 20 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 76.1%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 110,160
- Average weekly wage
- $997
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 1,741
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| West Columbia | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,343 | $229,480 | $289,727 |
| Typical rent | $1,600/mo | $1,650/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $924 | $845 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in West Columbia, SC?
- $230,343.
- What is typical rent in West Columbia, SC?
- Typical rent: $1,600/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in West Columbia, SC?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, tornado, coldWave.
- What is the wildfire risk in West Columbia, SC?
- Risk to homes is higher than 53% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in West Columbia, SC?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near West Columbia, SC?
- 3 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: SCRDI Dixiana, 1.5 mi.
- How many schools serve West Columbia, SC?
- 15 schools (7 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- What is the air quality in West Columbia, SC?
- Good. Median AQI: 41. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in West Columbia, SC?
- Regional Price Parity: 90.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP codes in West Columbia
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →