West Columbia, SC
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In West Columbia, South Carolina Summary

Life in West Columbia research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in West Columbia over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in West Columbia:

  • The population in West Columbia is 17,723.

  • The median home value in West Columbia is $221,146.

  • The median income in West Columbia is $54,152.

  • The cost of living in West Columbia is 95 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in West Columbia is $1,092.

  • The unemployment rate in West Columbia is 4.1%.

  • The poverty rate in West Columbia is 14.1%.

  • The average high in West Columbia is 75.2° and the average low is 52.0°.

West Columbia SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
7
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9

West Columbia, SC Crime Report

Crime in West Columbia summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in West Columbia. Key points include:

  • There were 964 total crimes in West Columbia in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in West Columbia is 5,185.3 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in West Columbia is 747.7 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in West Columbia is 4,437.6 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in West Columbia is 144.68% above the national average.

964
Total Crimes
144.68%
Above National Average

Crime In West Columbia Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
West Columbia
/ 100k People
South Carolina
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 964 5,185.3 2,402.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 139 747.7 436.7 359.0
Murder 3 16.1 7.5 5.0
Robbery 14 75.3 35.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 113 607.8 357.1 256.0
Property Crime 825 4,437.6 1,965.8 1,760.0
Burglary 69 371.1 282.4 229.0
Larceny 690 3,711.5 1,468.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 66 355.0 215.1 259.0

West Columbia, SC Cost Of Living

Cost of living in West Columbia summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in West Columbia. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around South Carolina. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in West Columbia is 95 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in West Columbia is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in West Columbia is $221,146.

  • The median income in West Columbia is $54,152.

95
West Columbia's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In West Columbia Comparison Table

Living Expense West Columbia South Carolina National Average
Overall 95 93 100
Services 98 102 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 87 92 100
Housing 88 81 100
Transportation 80 92 100
Utilities 132 109 100

West Columbia, SC Weather

  • The average high in West Columbia is 75.2° and the average low is 52.0°.

  • There are 69.6 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 44.9 inches of precipitation each year with 1.1 inches of snow.

StatWest Columbia
Average Annual High75.2
Average Annual Low52.0
Annual Precipitation Days69.6
Average Annual Precipitation44.9
Average Annual Snowfall1.1
75.2°
Average High
69.6
Days of Rain

West Columbia, SC Photos

Newbrooklandtavern
Source: Public Domain
West Columbia Riverwalk Park
Source: Wikipedia User Gillis 1000 | CC BY-SA 4.0
West Columbia Riverwalk North
Source: Wikipedia User Gillis 1000 | CC BY-SA 4.0
University Of South Carolina Horseshoe
Source: Wikipedia User Dfscgt21 | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for West Columbia in South Carolina

Locations Around West Columbia

Map Of West Columbia, SC

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8

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9

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West Columbia Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in West Columbia

The current population in West Columbia is 17,723. The population has increased 20.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 17,723 1.5%
2022 17,459 1.1%
2021 17,265 -2.9%
2020 17,782 0.8%
2019 17,641 2.0%
2018 17,296 1.4%
2017 17,056 7.0%
2016 15,947 1.2%
2015 15,757 0.9%
2014 15,623 0.9%
2013 15,489 1.9%
2012 15,194 1.7%
2011 14,937 1.8%
2010 14,668 -

Race / Ethnicity in West Columbia

White
64.7% (11,465)
African American
16.0% (2,832)
American Indian
0.2% (34)
Asian
3.5% (619)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.1% (16)
Two Or More
3.9% (699)
Hispanic
11.6% (2,058)

West Columbia is:

  • 64.7% White with 11,465 White residents.

  • 16.0% African American with 2,832 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 34 American Indian residents.

  • 3.5% Asian with 619 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 16 Other residents.

  • 3.9% Two Or More with 699 Two Or More residents.

  • 11.6% Hispanic with 2,058 Hispanic residents.

Race West Columbia SC USA
White 64.7% 62.2% 58.2%
African American 16.0% 25.1% 12.0%
American Indian 0.2% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 3.5% 1.7% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 3.9% 3.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 11.6% 7.1% 19.0%

Gender in West Columbia

Female
55.5% (9,832)
Male
44.5% (7,890)
  • West Columbia is 55.5% female with 9,832 female residents.

  • West Columbia is 44.5% male with 7,890 male residents.

Gender West Columbia SC USA
Female 55.5% 51.3% 50.5%
Male 44.5% 48.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in West Columbia for adults over 25

  • 3.0% of adults in West Columbia completed < 9th grade.

  • 7.0% of adults in West Columbia completed 9-12th grade.

  • 24.0% of adults in West Columbia completed high school / ged.

  • 18.0% of adults in West Columbia completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in West Columbia completed associate's degree.

  • 24.0% of adults in West Columbia completed bachelor's degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in West Columbia completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in West Columbia completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in West Columbia completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
3.0% (531)
9-12th Grade
7.0% (1,240)
High School / GED
24.0% (4,253)
Some College
18.0% (3,190)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (1,772)
Bachelor's Degree
24.0% (4,253)
Master's Degree
10.0% (1,772)
Professional Degree
2.0% (354)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (354)
Education West Columbia SC USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 7.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 24.0% 28.0% 26.0%
Some College 18.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 24.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 10.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For West Columbia, South Carolina

  • 6.1% of households in West Columbia earn Less than $10,000.

  • 3.5% of households in West Columbia earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 10.0% of households in West Columbia earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.1% of households in West Columbia earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 16.2% of households in West Columbia earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.4% of households in West Columbia earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.0% of households in West Columbia earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 14.8% of households in West Columbia earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.0% of households in West Columbia earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.8% of households in West Columbia earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.1% (108,263)
$10,000 to $14,999
3.5% (62,170)
$15,000 to $24,999
10.0% (177,079)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.1% (161,430)
$35,000 to $49,999
16.2% (287,915)
$50,000 to $74,999
19.4% (343,655)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.0% (213,310)
$100,000 to $149,999
14.8% (261,975)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.0% (71,174)
$200,000 or more
4.8% (85,324)
Income West Columbia SC USA
Less than $10,000 6.1% 5.9% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 3.5% 4.0% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.0% 7.8% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.1% 8.0% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 16.2% 12.3% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.4% 17.2% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.0% 12.9% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 14.8% 16.1% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.0% 7.5% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 4.8% 8.3% 12.6%

Articles About South Carolina

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