Map the Block › Places › South Carolina › Columbia
What are the crime rate and median income in Columbia, SC?
According to the FBI, Columbia had 7.9 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents in 2025, about 2.0 times the South Carolina rate (3.9). Median household income is $55,529 and the median home value is $264,300. About 139,643 people live in Columbia. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income by neighborhood · home values · schools
What is the crime rate in Columbia?
Columbia's violent-crime rate for 2025 was 7.9 per 1,000 residents, based on 1,157 offenses reported to the FBI. That is about 2.0 times the South Carolina rate (3.9), and about 2.4 times the national rate (3.3). 19 of the violent crimes were murders or non-negligent manslaughter. Property crime came to 4,605 offenses (31.3 per 1,000; South Carolina: 16.8). Compared with 2021, when 962 were reported, the count is up 20%.
| Offense (2025) | Columbia count | Per 1,000 | South Carolina per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 1,157 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 3.3 |
| Murder | 19 | 0.13 | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Rape | 75 | 0.51 | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Robbery | 101 | 0.69 | 0.28 | 0.49 |
| Aggravated assault | 962 | 6.5 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Property crime | 4,605 | 31.3 | 16.8 | 15.3 |
| Burglary | 596 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Larceny-theft | 3,525 | 24.0 | 12.8 | 11.4 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 484 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 |
How has crime in Columbia changed since 2021?
| Year | Violent crimes | Property crimes | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 962 | 5,542 | 20 |
| 2022 | 826 | 3,937 | 13 |
| 2023 | 1,086 | 4,933 | 20 |
| 2024 | 1,113 | 4,692 | 14 |
| 2025 | 1,157 | 4,605 | 19 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. City figures are the Columbia Police Department's own reports.
How does Columbia compare with South Carolina?
Households in Columbia have a median income of $55,529 (South Carolina: $69,324). The median owner-occupied home is worth $264,300 by owners' estimates, and half of renters pay more than $1,204 a month. About 139,643 people live on 138 square miles of land, roughly 1,008 per square mile. The city lies in Richland County.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 139,643 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $55,529 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $264,300 | $250,000+ | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,204 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 7.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 24.0% | 14.1% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 45.9% | 32.1% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 45.5% | 71.9% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 28.6 | 40.2 | 38.9 |
What environmental sites and hazards are in Columbia?
Columbia has 13 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. 5 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 7 Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Weston Lake (48 ft) and Tucker Lake Dam (36 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Richland County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Relatively High), river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Is there road construction in Columbia?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 12 highway work zones in Columbia city limits (0 active that day). Listed roads include US21, US176 and SC48. 1 is on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in or near Columbia?
Inside the city limits there are 35 public schools (2024-25) and 13 private schools (2023-24). 6 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes are in the city. Within about 15 miles: National Park Service sites here: Congaree National Park. 2 state parks or recreation areas: Dreher Island State Park and Sesquicentennial State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Columbia
Gun shops
6 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map inside the Columbia city limits, plus 5 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 2 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Academy Sports + Outdoors #136 (Columbia), Barron's Outfitters (Columbia), Bonded Loan Office INC (Columbia), Peoples Pawn Shop INC (Columbia), Walmart #1164 (Columbia) and Walmart #1286 (Columbia).
Liquor stores
18 liquor stores are on the map inside the Columbia city limits: ..., ABC Liquor, Abc Liquor Store (Columbia), Bottles Beverage Superstore, Class Six (Columbia), Green's Beverages (Columbia), Green's Garners Ferry (Columbia), J & A Liquors and 10 more. South Carolina has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map inside the Columbia city limits: Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (Columbia).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Columbia?
In 2025, Columbia had 7.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (1,157 reported), about 2.0 times the South Carolina rate (3.9). The property-crime rate was 31.3 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Columbia?
$55,529 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024), compared with $69,324 for South Carolina.
How much do homes cost in Columbia?
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $264,300 (Census ACS 2020-2024), against $250,000+ statewide.
What natural hazards affect Columbia?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Richland County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Relatively High), river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High).
Nearby cities
Rock Hill, SC (62 mi) · Charlotte, NC (81 mi) · Augusta, GA (82 mi) · Summerville, SC (83 mi) · Gastonia, NC (85 mi) · North Charleston, SC (91 mi)
More: South Carolina statewide numbers · county page: Richland County · Sex-offender registry search (NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, agency counts 2021-2025 (Return A); state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables, for the Census place Columbia city.
- Land area: Census 2024 Gazetteer. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores (county level).
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026).
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026).
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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