West Columbia, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29172
Lexington County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 9,293
- 143/sq mi High-density area
- $64,430
- Median income Near-median income area
- $180,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Columbia pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 37th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 143
- people per sq mi
- 82%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29172 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29172 (West Columbia, SC) fell -3.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 225.1 in 2023 to 217.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29172 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina, home to 9,293 residents across 65.1 square miles, a density of 143 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29172 reports a modest median household income of $64,430 (1% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,949. The poverty rate is 7.5%, with unemployment at 4.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $180,800 (20% below the average South Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $1,048; owner occupancy is 81.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.5, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lexington County, so 29172 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 29172
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Columbia, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29172.
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
38 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
30 establishments
- Construction
Construction
29 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
29 establishments
- Manufacturing 13
Manufacturing
13 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29172, West Columbia, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
9,293
Population
65.1
Area (sq mi)
143
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29172?
39.5
Median Age
45.4%
Male
54.6%
Female
3.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$64,430
Median Household Income
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$31,949
Per Capita Income
7.5%
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Unemployment Rate
22.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29172 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
West Columbia, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$64,430 Top 41% higher than 59% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
4,117housing units
4,117
Total Housing Units
3,737
Occupied Units
380
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$180,800
Median Home Value
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$1,048
Median Rent
1980
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-3.5%
YoY Change (2024)
217
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+117%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29172 have decreased 3.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 148 |
| 2021 | +11.9% | 165 |
| 2022 | +18.4% | 196 |
| 2023 | +15.0% | 225 |
| 2024 | -3.5% | 217 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 198 business establishments in ZIP 29172, employing approximately 10,954 people with a combined annual payroll of $573,141,000.
198
Businesses
10,954
Employees
$573.1M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 38 | 19.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 30 | 15.2% |
| Construction | 29 | 14.7% |
| Retail trade | 29 | 14.7% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 6.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 6.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 11 | 5.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8 | 4.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 3.5% |
| Utilities | 6 | 3.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 3.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 29172 vs 29033 →
ZIP 29172 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29209
Columbia (29209)
33,324 residents
- 29205
Columbia (29205)
24,822 residents
- 29169
West Columbia (29169)
22,845 residents
- 29201
Columbia (29201)
20,594 residents
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
19,988 residents
- 29053
Gaston (29053)
18,830 residents
- 29033 11,603
Cayce (29033)
11,603 residents
- 29172 9,293
West Columbia (29172)
9,293 residents
- 29225 1,228
Columbia (29225)
1,228 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29172 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29172 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
$74,902 median income
- 29172
West Columbia (29172)
$64,430 median income
- 29205
Columbia (29205)
$64,231 median income
- 29033
Cayce (29033)
$61,237 median income
- 29209
Columbia (29209)
$58,772 median income
- 29169
West Columbia (29169)
$57,122 median income
- 29053
Gaston (29053)
$56,703 median income
- 29201
Columbia (29201)
$32,297 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29172 ranks #2 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29033 | Cayce, SC | 11,603 | 3.5 mi |
| 29053 | Gaston, SC | 18,830 | 5.6 mi |
| 29170 | West Columbia, SC | 19,988 | 4.7 mi |
| 29169 | West Columbia, SC | 22,845 | 6.3 mi |
| 29201 | Columbia, SC | 20,594 | 5.8 mi |
| 29202 | Columbia, SC | 135 | 6.4 mi |
| 29208 | Columbia, SC | 695 | 6.8 mi |
| 29209 | Columbia, SC | 33,324 | 6.9 mi |
| 29225 | Columbia, SC | 1,228 | 6.7 mi |
| 29205 | Columbia, SC | 24,822 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29172, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (9,293 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lexington County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29172 in?
ZIP code 29172 (West Columbia) is located in Lexington County, South Carolina. Lexington County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lexington-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29172?
ZIP code 29172 in West Columbia, SC has a population of 9,293 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29172?
The median household income in ZIP 29172 is $64,430, which is 16% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29172?
The median home value in ZIP 29172 is $180,800, which is 35% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29172?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29172 is White at 59.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29172?
ZIP code 29172 has 198 business establishments employing approximately 10,954 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29172?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29172 are: Wholesale trade (38), Transportation and warehousing (30), Construction (29). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29172?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29172 decreased by 3.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 29172?
In ZIP code 29172, 61.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 29172?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29172 is 22.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29172?
In ZIP code 29172, approximately 81.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29172?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29172 is 7.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29172's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29172 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Columbia, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.