Population 422,117 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Richland County
Household size in Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.46 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.05 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in Richland County has 2.40 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.46, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 37.1 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.9 | 37.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 38.6 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.1 | 39.4 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.3 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Richland County is 37.1 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other South Carolina county is younger.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 13.2% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 13.4% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 12.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 12.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Richland County than nationally: 14.3%, against 11.6%. Richland County has a higher share of single-parent households than most South Carolina counties.
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 Richland County
Renters in Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9% | 31.2% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.2% | 32.8% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.4% | 32.1% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.7% | 30.6% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Richland County than nationally: 39.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 35.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.9 points, in line with the national trend. Richland County has the highest share of renters of any South Carolina county.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 10.7% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 12.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 11.8% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 10.3% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Richland County as nationally: 10.9%, against 9.6%. Richland County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of South Carolina counties.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1984 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Richland County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $892 | $831 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $969 | $908 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,081 | $1,021 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,377 | $1,285 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$485 | +$453 | +$514 | +$606 |
The median renter in Richland County pays $1,377 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in the Columbia area as a whole ($1,285). Rents are up $485 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.2% 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 Richland County
Bachelor's degrees in Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9% | 31.5% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 31.8% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.6% | 34.1% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.9% | 35.9% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +4.4 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Richland County than nationally: 40.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of South Carolina's 46 counties, only three have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 88.1% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.6% | 88.7% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 90.2% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 91.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Richland County is a bit above the national rate: 92.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only four of South Carolina's 46 counties have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Richland County
| Period | Richland County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Richland County than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 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).
Richland County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | 2.40 | 37.1 | 14.3% | 39.7% | 10.9% | 1988 | $1,377 | 40.9% | 92.1% | 6.3% |
| Lexington County | 2.53 | 40.8 | 11.5% | 22.6% | 8.5% | 1993 | $1,248 | 34.1% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
| Sumter County | 2.53 | 39.9 | 12.8% | 31.9% | 13.2% | 1987 | $1,161 | 23.9% | 89.6% | 6.6% |
| Saluda County | 2.49 | 44.4 | 13.0% | 21.3% | 19.1% | 1986 | $1,002 | 20.9% | 84.3% | 3.2% |
| Lee County | 2.40 | 43.6 | 14.0% | 29.5% | 16.4% | 1983 | $865 | 11.8% | 80.1% | 7.2% |
| Florence County | 2.61 | 39.7 | 14.0% | 35.5% | 15.5% | 1986 | $986 | 24.4% | 87.6% | 5.7% |
| Marion County | 2.40 | 43.0 | 18.7% | 37.4% | 16.6% | 1981 | $685 | 14.9% | 85.9% | 7.4% |
| Elbert County | 2.46 | 43.4 | 12.6% | 29.1% | 13.0% | 1978 | $787 | 16.6% | 86.6% | 4.0% |
| Oglethorpe County | 2.94 | 43.2 | 11.5% | 16.2% | 17.3% | 1990 | $855 | 25.1% | 88.5% | 3.3% |
| Madison County | 2.80 | 40.2 | 13.6% | 23.1% | 10.0% | 1991 | $962 | 21.6% | 83.5% | 3.8% |
| Clarke County | 2.22 | 33.2 | 12.6% | 58.6% | 6.9% | 1987 | $1,250 | 46.2% | 89.0% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Weld County, CO · Davis County, UT · Douglas County, CO · Durham County, NC · East Baton Rouge Parish, LA · Escambia County, FL · Fayette County, KY · Forsyth County, NC · Westmoreland County, PA · Allen County, IN
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 Richland County. 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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