Population 7,683 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Columbia
Household size in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.90 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.97 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.76 | 2.46 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.05 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown Columbia are small: just 1.76 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 1.90, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8 | 37.1 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 22.2 | 37.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 19.9 | 38.6 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 20.2 | 39.4 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.5 | +2.3 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 20.2, Downtown Columbia is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 21.8, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 13.2% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 13.4% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 12.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 12.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown Columbia: 4.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Columbia
Renters in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 31.2% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 82.1% | 32.8% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 32.1% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 30.6% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown Columbia: 89.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Nearly two-thirds of owners (63.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 10.7% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 12.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 11.8% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.8% | 10.3% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.8% of the housing in Downtown Columbia, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1984 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1990 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Downtown Columbia has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1995, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $823 | $831 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $971 | $908 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,144 | $1,021 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,436 | $1,285 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$613 | +$453 | +$514 | +$606 |
Rent in Downtown Columbia runs $1,436 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in the Columbia area as a whole ($1,285). Rents are up $613 a month from 2006–10, a 75% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 51.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Columbia
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.9% | 31.5% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 31.8% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.6% | 34.1% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.8% | 35.9% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +4.4 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown Columbia is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (53.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.2% | 88.1% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 88.7% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 90.2% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 91.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown Columbia is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Columbia area (91.4%). The share with a diploma is down 6.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Columbia
| Period | Downtown Columbia | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Downtown Columbia: 8.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Columbia compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Columbia | 1.76 | 20.2 | 4.6% | 89.0% | 19.8% | 1995 | $1,436 | 53.8% | 88.7% | 8.8% |
| The Congaree Vista | 1.66 | 23.3 | 4.9% | 80.4% | 20.0% | 1998 | $1,467 | 65.8% | 94.0% | 6.7% |
| Three Points | 2.35 | 33.9 | 18.7% | 48.9% | 21.0% | 1962 | $1,228 | 45.7% | 88.6% | 12.2% |
| East Augusta | 2.70 | 31.2 | 32.1% | 73.6% | 13.9% | 1977 | $880 | 7.3% | 85.7% | 8.6% |
| National Hills | 1.99 | 37.1 | 9.8% | 61.7% | 42.7% | 1991 | $1,315 | 33.8% | 87.8% | 1.8% |
| West Side | 1.66 | 43.4 | 10.4% | 33.9% | 33.6% | 1985 | $1,276 | 41.4% | 94.1% | 2.5% |
| Summerville | 2.08 | 44.6 | 5.5% | 41.1% | 20.2% | 1946 | $884 | 51.1% | 91.4% | 6.0% |
| West Augusta | 2.23 | 38.4 | 13.5% | 48.2% | 24.0% | 1982 | $1,447 | 54.5% | 97.6% | 5.0% |
| Highland Park | 2.40 | 29.8 | 10.8% | 69.7% | 19.8% | 1974 | $1,133 | 23.3% | 96.5% | 7.4% |
| Forrest Hills | 2.16 | 41.0 | 14.8% | 53.4% | 13.4% | 1968 | $1,296 | 41.7% | 92.4% | 5.4% |
| Montclair | 2.14 | 47.2 | 9.2% | 42.2% | 21.6% | 1984 | $1,395 | 38.6% | 92.4% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Cedar Hills, Cedar Rapids, IA · Avondale, Jacksonville, FL · Becks Park, Chicago, IL · Beechwood, Rochester, NY · Plaza Terrace, Tampa, FL · Harvest Bend, Houston, TX · Northeast MacFarlane, Tampa, FL · North Indian Trail, Spokane, WA · Murray Hill, Jacksonville, FL · Moreland, Chicago, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Columbia. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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