Columbia, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29209
Richland County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 33,324
- 249/sq mi High-density area
- $58,772
- Median income Below-median income area
- $206,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 40.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Columbia pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 27th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 249
- people per sq mi
- 59%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29209 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 29209 (Columbia, SC) rose +4.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 207.7 in 2023 to 216.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29209 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, with 33,324 residents across 134.1 square miles, a density of 249 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29209 reports a modest median household income of $58,772 (8% below the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,989. The poverty rate is 19.1%, with unemployment at 6.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $206,500 (9% below the average South Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,326; 58.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.9, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Richland County, so 29209 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 29209
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Columbia, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29209.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
120 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
92 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
83 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
64 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
57 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 29209, 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
33,324
Population
134.1
Area (sq mi)
249
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29209?
33.9
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
8.0%
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?
$58,772
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$37,989
Per Capita Income
19.1%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
21.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29209 ranks nationally
Columbia, SC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$58,772 27th percentile higher than 27% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
16,684housing units
16,684
Total Housing Units
15,229
Occupied Units
1,455
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$206,500
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,326
Median Rent
1985
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
+4.1%
YoY Change (2024)
216
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+116%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29209 have increased 4.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +116% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.2% | 146 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 161 |
| 2022 | +19.1% | 192 |
| 2023 | +8.0% | 208 |
| 2024 | +4.1% | 216 |
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 745 business establishments in ZIP 29209, employing approximately 15,181 people with a combined annual payroll of $806,562,000.
745
Businesses
15,181
Employees
$806.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 120 | 16.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 92 | 12.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 83 | 11.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 64 | 8.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 57 | 7.7% |
| Construction | 55 | 7.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 51 | 6.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 49 | 6.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 43 | 5.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 5.4% |
| Manufacturing | 33 | 4.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 31 | 4.2% |
| Information | 11 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.7% |
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 29209 vs 29206 →
ZIP 29209 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
- 29201
Columbia (29201)
20,594 residents
- 29204
Columbia (29204)
19,952 residents
- 29206
Columbia (29206)
17,788 residents
- 29061
Hopkins (29061)
13,717 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 29209 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29209 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
- 29061
Hopkins (29061)
$60,307 median income
- 29209
Columbia (29209)
$58,772 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 29209 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29206 | Columbia, SC | 17,788 | 7.2 mi |
| 29205 | Columbia, SC | 24,822 | 5.2 mi |
| 29061 | Hopkins, SC | 13,717 | 6.2 mi |
| 29201 | Columbia, SC | 20,594 | 5.9 mi |
| 29172 | West Columbia, SC | 9,293 | 6.9 mi |
| 29033 | Cayce, SC | 11,603 | 6.4 mi |
| 29225 | Columbia, SC | 1,228 | 6.5 mi |
| 29202 | Columbia, SC | 135 | 6.5 mi |
| 29208 | Columbia, SC | 695 | 6.7 mi |
| 29204 | Columbia, SC | 19,952 | 7.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29209, 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 (33,324 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 29209 in?
ZIP code 29209 (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 29209?
ZIP code 29209 in Columbia, SC has a population of 33,324 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29209?
The median household income in ZIP 29209 is $58,772, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29209?
The median home value in ZIP 29209 is $206,500, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29209?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29209 is African American at 49.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29209?
ZIP code 29209 has 745 business establishments employing approximately 15,181 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29209?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29209 are: Retail trade (120), Health care and social assistance (92), Accommodation and food services (83). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29209?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29209 increased by 4.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 116%. 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 29209?
In ZIP code 29209, 61.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.2% 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 29209?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29209 is 21.6 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 29209?
In ZIP code 29209, 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 29209?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29209 is 19.1% 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 29209's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29209 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.