Columbia SC

In Columbia, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $55,529 and median rent is $1,204/month. A staggering 55% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $264,300 — that's 4.8× the median income. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. With a median age of 29, this is a young city — high energy, high turnover, and a lot of people figuring out adulthood simultaneously. Employment picture: 7.48% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 24.0% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 18 minutes — mercifully short. Columbia was founded in 1787 — that's 239 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 132.2 sq miles at 1,056 people/sq mile — sprawling. Elevation: 292 ft — modest elevation. Columbia has 6 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 60/100 — It Depends.