Map the Block › Places › South Carolina › Richland County
Richland County, South Carolina in numbers: crime, income, hazards
Richland County averaged 6.7 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 45% higher than the South Carolina rate (4.6). Households here have a median income of $63,784 and the unemployment rate was 4.5% in August 2026. About 422,117 people live in the county.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Richland County?
Police agencies in Richland County reported an average of 2,878 violent crimes and 11,782 property crimes a year from 2021 to 2025. Per 1,000 residents, the violent-crime rate works out to 6.7: 45% higher than the South Carolina rate (4.6), and 81% higher than the national rate (3.7). Burglary, theft and car theft together come to 27.4 per 1,000 residents, compared with 21.3 across South Carolina. Aggravated assaults make up 82% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 55 homicide deaths a year in the county (13.3 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Richland County | Per 1,000 | South Carolina per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 2,878 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 47 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 159 | 0.37 | 0.39 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 307 | 0.71 | 0.39 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 2,366 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 11,782 | 27.4 | 21.3 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 1,663 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 8,618 | 20.0 | 15.8 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1,502 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
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. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (4 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Richland County?
Half of households in Richland County make more than $63,784 and half make less; across South Carolina the midpoint is $69,324. Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $242,800, and the median rent is $1,228 a month. 10.6% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 10.5%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.5% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 9,772 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Richland County | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 422,117 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $63,784 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $242,800 | $250,000+ | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,228 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 6.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 17.2% | 14.1% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 10.6% | 10.5% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 32.1% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 60.3% | 71.9% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 34.4 | 40.2 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 90.4% | 88.8% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 8.7% | 9.6% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Richland County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Richland County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. The hazards rated highest here 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.
Superfund sites
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Richland County: Scrdi Bluff Road and Townsend Saw Chain Co.. 1 other site has finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
The National Inventory of Dams lists 66 high-hazard dams in Richland County. 22 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 42 Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Weston Lake (48 ft) and Lake Carolina Dam (47 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
36 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 3,511,045 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Richland County was covered by 4 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Hurricane 4), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 1 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 30 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 3 (low). NHTSA counted 63 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 12 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Richland County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 34 highway work zones in Richland County (0 active that day). Roads listed: US76, US1 and I-77. 5 are 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 Richland County?
Federal school lists show 104 public and 25 private schools in the county. 13 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 34 fire or EMS stations and 9 police or sheriff stations. Park Service units in the area: Congaree National Park. 1 state park or recreation area: Sesquicentennial State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Richland County
Gun shops
20 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Richland County, plus 25 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 8 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Academy Sports + Outdoors #103 (2 in Columbia), Academy Sports + Outdoors #136 (Columbia), Barron's Outfitters (Columbia), Best Deal Pawn & Gun (Columbia), Bonded Loan Office INC (Columbia), Craig's Firearm Supply INC (Columbia), First Cash Pawn (Columbia), Palmetto Gold & Pawn INC (Columbia) and 11 more.
Liquor stores
57 liquor stores are on the map in Richland County: ..., 9003 Wine and Spirits (Columbia), ABC Liquor, Abc Liquor Store (Columbia), ABC Liquor store (Columbia), ABC N.E Discount Liquor (Columbia), ABC Package Store (Irmo), ABC Store (Columbia) and 49 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 in Richland County: 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 Richland County?
Richland County averaged 2,878 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 6.7 per 1,000 residents, 45% higher than the South Carolina rate (4.6). The property-crime rate was 27.4 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Richland County?
$63,784 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $69,324 for South Carolina and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Richland County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.5% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 9,772 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Richland County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Richland County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. The hazards rated highest here are tornadoes (Relatively High), river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Richland County?
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Richland County: Scrdi Bluff Road and Townsend Saw Chain Co.. 1 other site has finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Richland County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 34 highway work zones in Richland County (0 active that day). Roads listed: US76, US1 and I-77. 5 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Richland County?
13 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Richland County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | 14,182 | 3.6 | $58,682 |
| Fairfield County | 20,550 | 7.0 | $47,885 |
| Kershaw County | 68,314 | 4.7 | $68,231 |
| Lexington County | 304,887 | 3.3 | $77,408 |
| Newberry County | 38,435 | 3.8 | $61,780 |
| Sumter County | 104,725 | 7.6 | $56,693 |
Cities in Richland County with their own page: Columbia.
More: South Carolina statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- 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). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- 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). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- 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.
Home · Open the map · All places · About the data · Privacy · Terms