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Columbia, SC
Columbia · Richland County · SC 29201
Updated October 28, 2026 · Would You Live There?
Think twice
Verdict
$256K
Median Price
89/100
Walk Score
8.5/10
Schools
30 min
to Downtown Columbia
Score Breakdown
FAffordability
28/100
D+Safety
55/100
B+Schools
85/100
CQuietness
60/100
B+Commute
85/100
B+Walkability
89/100
WYLT Score67/100
Our Take
Columbia’s downtown area is walkable with good schools, but the median income is low compared to home prices, hinting at a tighter budget for families. It’s bike‑friendly and has low flood risk, yet crime and limited transit options can be a challenge.
B.
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The Good
- ✓Very walkable with walkscore 84
- ✓High‑rated public schools average 8.3
- ✓Bike score 80 making cycling easy
- ✓Low flood risk (Zone X)
Real Talk
- !Median household income (≈$33k) is low for the median home price, so budgeting is tight
- !Crime rates are moderate to high for a city of this size
- !Public transit options are limited – most rely on cars
- !Higher than average taxes and insurance costs can bite
- $Property taxes can be high for Columbia
- $Utility bills (especially water and electricity) are above national average
- $School vouchers and extracurriculars add to child‑care costs
Best For
young familiesbike enthusiastsstudentsremote workers with good internet
Risk Snapshot
Flood riskLow
Violent crimeModerate
Property crimeModerate
Air qualityModerate
Price volatilityModerate
Crime & Safety
Columbia, SC
D+
Safety grade
Safety score55 / 100
High riskVery safe
⚠️Violent Crime
Moderate3.9incidents / 1,000 residents / yr
0Natl avg (3.7)11+
5% higher than the national average
🔒Property Crime
Moderate19.8incidents / 1,000 residents / yr
0Natl avg (19.5)59+
2% higher than the national average
Verify with real-time data
City-Data stats →From Residents
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