Columbia, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29212
Lexington County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 28,798
- 492/sq mi High-density area
- $77,142
- Median income Near-median income area
- $247,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 46.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Columbia pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 42%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 492
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29212 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 29212 (Columbia, SC) rose +6.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 198.8 in 2023 to 210.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29212 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina, with 28,798 residents across 58.5 square miles, a density of 492 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29212 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $77,142 (21% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $45,969. The poverty rate is 9.2%, with unemployment at 8.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $247,000 (9% above the average South Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,452; 67.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.8, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lexington County, so 29212 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 29212
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Columbia, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29212.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
206 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
101 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
91 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
91 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
85 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 29212, 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
28,798
Population
58.5
Area (sq mi)
492
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29212?
44.8
Median Age
46.1%
Male
53.9%
Female
6.8%
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?
$77,142
Median Household Income
+21% vs state ZIP avg
$45,969
Per Capita Income
9.2%
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Unemployment Rate
24.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29212 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)
$77,142 Top 22% higher than 78% 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
13,520housing units
13,520
Total Housing Units
12,643
Occupied Units
877
Vacant Units
2.18
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$247,000
Median Home Value
+9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,452
Median Rent
1986
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
+6.0%
YoY Change (2024)
211
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+111%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29212 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +111% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.2% | 136 |
| 2021 | +9.5% | 149 |
| 2022 | +21.5% | 181 |
| 2023 | +9.7% | 199 |
| 2024 | +6.0% | 211 |
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 890 business establishments in ZIP 29212, employing approximately 11,626 people with a combined annual payroll of $405,676,000.
890
Businesses
11,626
Employees
$405.7M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 206 | 23.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 101 | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 91 | 10.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 91 | 10.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 85 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 63 | 7.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 58 | 6.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 42 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 42 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 3.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 13 | 1.5% |
| Utilities | 10 | 1.1% |
| Information | 10 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.3% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.3% |
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 29212 vs 29063 →
ZIP 29212 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29072
Lexington (29072)
49,566 residents
- 29210
Columbia (29210)
40,356 residents
- 29063
Irmo (29063)
32,717 residents
- 29212
Columbia (29212)
28,798 residents
- 29169
West Columbia (29169)
22,845 residents
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
19,988 residents
- 29036 19,140
Chapin (29036)
19,140 residents
- 29033 11,603
Cayce (29033)
11,603 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29212 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29212 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29036
Chapin (29036)
$113,986 median income
- 29072
Lexington (29072)
$106,382 median income
- 29063
Irmo (29063)
$91,973 median income
- 29212
Columbia (29212)
$77,142 median income
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
$74,902 median income
- 29033
Cayce (29033)
$61,237 median income
- 29169
West Columbia (29169)
$57,122 median income
- 29210
Columbia (29210)
$50,871 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29212 ranks #4 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29212, 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 (28,798 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 29212 in?
ZIP code 29212 (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 29212?
ZIP code 29212 in Columbia, SC has a population of 28,798 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29212?
The median household income in ZIP 29212 is $77,142, which is 1% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29212?
The median home value in ZIP 29212 is $247,000, which is 11% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29212?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29212 is White at 63.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29212?
ZIP code 29212 has 890 business establishments employing approximately 11,626 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29212?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29212 are: Retail trade (206), Accommodation and food services (101), Professional, scientific, and technical services (91). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29212?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29212 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 111%. 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 29212?
In ZIP code 29212, 64.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.2% 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 29212?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29212 is 24.8 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 29212?
In ZIP code 29212, approximately 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29212?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29212 is 9.2% 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 29212's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29212 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
- 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.