Columbia, SC · standard

ZIP Code 29204

Richland County, South Carolina — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

19,952
1,192/sq mi
$50,189
Median income
$199,600
Median home value
38.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Columbia pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

14th pct
household income, US ZIPs
43th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,192
people per sq mi
59%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29204 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 29204 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 16.7 square miles in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. The area is home to 19,952 residents, producing a population density of 1,192 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 29204 against South Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 29204 sits at $50,189 (21% below the South Carolina average), while per-capita income is $35,243. The poverty rate stands at 23.5% and the unemployment rate at 8.4%. On housing, the median home value is $199,600 (12% below the state average) with median rent at $1,031 per month, and 58.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 29204 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.3, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Richland County, so you can benchmark 29204 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 29204

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29204.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29204, Columbia, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

19,952

Population

16.7

Area (sq mi)

1,192

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 29204?

35.3

Median Age

47.0%

Male

53.0%

Female

3.7%

Foreign-Born

White 45.3%
African American 45.6%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%

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?

$50,189

Median Household Income

-21% vs state

$35,243

Per Capita Income

23.5%

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Unemployment Rate

18.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 29204 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$50,189 14th percentile higher than 14% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 62.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

8,755

Total Housing Units

7,837

Occupied Units

918

Vacant Units

2.03

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 58.7%
Renter 41.3%

$199,600

Median Home Value

-12% vs state

$1,031

Median Rent

1964

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-0.3%

YoY Change (2024)

225

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+125%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 29204 have decreased 0.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +125% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.1% 152
2021 +10.5% 168
2022 +15.7% 194
2023 +16.0% 226
2024 -0.3% 225

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 549 business establishments in ZIP 29204, employing approximately 7,164 people with a combined annual payroll of $337,668,000.

549

Businesses

7,164

Employees

$337.7M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 134 24.4%
Retail trade 82 14.9%
Other services (except public administration) 78 14.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 74 13.5%
Finance and insurance 44 8.0%
Accommodation and food services 28 5.1%
Construction 25 4.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 22 4.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 20 3.6%
Educational services 8 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.5%
Wholesale trade 6 1.1%
Management of companies and enterprises 6 1.1%
Transportation and warehousing 5 0.9%
Information 5 0.9%
Manufacturing 3 0.6%

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 29204 vs 29205 →

ZIP 29204 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29204 ranks #6 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 29204 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 29204 ranks #5 of 7 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
29205 Columbia, SC 24,822 2.7 mi
29206 Columbia, SC 17,788 2.4 mi
29225 Columbia, SC 1,228 2.7 mi
29208 Columbia, SC 695 2.7 mi
29202 Columbia, SC 135 3.0 mi
29201 Columbia, SC 20,594 3.5 mi
29147 State Park, SC 0 4.8 mi
29203 Columbia, SC 39,843 5.7 mi
29210 Columbia, SC 40,356 6.2 mi
29169 West Columbia, SC 22,845 6.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Richland County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 29204 in?
ZIP code 29204 (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 29204?
ZIP code 29204 in Columbia, SC has a population of 19,952 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29204?
The median household income in ZIP 29204 is $50,189, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29204?
The median home value in ZIP 29204 is $199,600, which is 28% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29204?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29204 is African American at 45.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29204?
ZIP code 29204 has 549 business establishments employing approximately 7,164 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29204?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29204 are: Health care and social assistance (134), Retail trade (82), Other services (except public administration) (78). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29204?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29204 decreased by 0.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 125%. 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 29204?
In ZIP code 29204, 62.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.3% 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 29204?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29204 is 18.1 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 29204?
In ZIP code 29204, approximately 58.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29204?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29204 is 23.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Columbia, SC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.