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US City Data

Charleston vs Columbia

Side-by-side comparison

How does Charleston, SC compare to Columbia, SC? Charleston has a population of 152,014 with a median household income of $90,038, while Columbia has 138,019 residents and a median income of $55,653. Below you'll find a detailed breakdown of demographics, economy, and housing for both cities.

Population & Demographics
MetricCharleston, SCColumbia, SCDifference
Population152,014138,019+10.1%
Median Age36.128.7+25.8%
Foreign Born %5.4%5.1%+5.9%
Economy
MetricCharlestonColumbiaDifference
Median Income$90,038$55,653+61.8%
Unemployment3.4%7.6%-55.3%
Poverty Rate12%23.3%-48.5%
Bachelor's+57.7%46.1%+25.2%
Housing
MetricCharlestonColumbiaDifference
Home Value$469,100$243,500+92.6%
Median Rent$1632/mo$1158/mo+40.9%
Housing Units75,82660,568+25.2%

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Charleston, SC ProfileColumbia, SC ProfileCost of Living in South CarolinaMore ComparisonsCity Rankings