Columbia, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29201
Richland County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,594
- 696/sq mi High-density area
- $32,297
- Median income Below-median income area
- $255,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 52.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Columbia pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 2nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 41%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 696
- people per sq mi
- 25%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29201 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 29201 (Columbia, SC) rose +10.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 230.1 in 2023 to 254.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29201 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, with 20,594 residents across 29.6 square miles, a density of 696 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29201 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $32,297 (49% below the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,003. The poverty rate is 48.1%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $255,800 (13% above the average South Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,174; 25.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 52.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 22.5, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Richland County, so 29201 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 29201
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Columbia, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29201.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
498 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 184
Accommodation and food services
184 establishments
- Finance and insurance 182
Finance and insurance
182 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 181
Health care and social assistance
181 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 181
Other services (except public administration)
181 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 29201, 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
20,594
Population
29.6
Area (sq mi)
696
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29201?
22.5
Median Age
53.4%
Male
46.6%
Female
7.3%
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?
$32,297
Median Household Income
-49% vs state ZIP avg
$28,003
Per Capita Income
48.1%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
16.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29201 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
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)
$32,297 4th percentile higher than 4% 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
13,441housing units
13,441
Total Housing Units
10,410
Occupied Units
3,031
Vacant Units
1.95
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$255,800
Median Home Value
+13% vs state ZIP avg
$1,174
Median Rent
1996
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
+10.8%
YoY Change (2024)
255
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+155%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29201 have increased 10.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +155% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.4% | 173 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 193 |
| 2022 | +12.1% | 216 |
| 2023 | +6.3% | 230 |
| 2024 | +10.8% | 255 |
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 1,895 business establishments in ZIP 29201, employing approximately 33,650 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,243,338,000.
1,895
Businesses
33,650
Employees
$2.2B
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 498 | 26.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 184 | 9.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 182 | 9.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 181 | 9.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 181 | 9.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 119 | 6.3% |
| Retail trade | 116 | 6.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 98 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 81 | 4.3% |
| Information | 53 | 2.8% |
| Construction | 51 | 2.7% |
| Manufacturing | 43 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 33 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 27 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 | 0.6% |
| Utilities | 6 | 0.3% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.2% |
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 29201 vs 29202 →
ZIP 29201 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
- 29204
Columbia (29204)
19,952 residents
- 29206
Columbia (29206)
17,788 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 29201 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29201 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29206
Columbia (29206)
$91,847 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
- 29204
Columbia (29204)
$50,189 median income
- 29201 $32,297
Columbia (29201)
$32,297 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29201 ranks #8 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29202 | Columbia, SC | 135 | 0.7 mi |
| 29208 | Columbia, SC | 695 | 1.0 mi |
| 29225 | Columbia, SC | 1,228 | 0.9 mi |
| 29205 | Columbia, SC | 24,822 | 1.8 mi |
| 29033 | Cayce, SC | 11,603 | 2.5 mi |
| 29204 | Columbia, SC | 19,952 | 3.5 mi |
| 29169 | West Columbia, SC | 22,845 | 4.1 mi |
| 29206 | Columbia, SC | 17,788 | 5.1 mi |
| 29172 | West Columbia, SC | 9,293 | 5.8 mi |
| 29209 | Columbia, SC | 33,324 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29201, 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 (20,594 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Richland County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29201 in?
ZIP code 29201 (Columbia) is located in Richland County, South Carolina. Richland County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/richland-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29201?
ZIP code 29201 in Columbia, SC has a population of 20,594 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29201?
The median household income in ZIP 29201 is $32,297, which is 58% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29201?
The median home value in ZIP 29201 is $255,800, which is 8% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29201?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29201 is White at 63.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29201?
ZIP code 29201 has 1,895 business establishments employing approximately 33,650 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29201?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29201 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (498), Accommodation and food services (184), Finance and insurance (182). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29201?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29201 increased by 10.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 155%. 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 29201?
In ZIP code 29201, 70.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 52.9% 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 29201?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29201 is 16.8 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 29201?
In ZIP code 29201, approximately 25.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 75.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29201?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29201 is 48.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 29201's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29201 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Columbia, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.