West Columbia city, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Columbia city is a small city located in South Carolina. The total population is 17,723. It ranks as the 35th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Columbia city is 37.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Columbia city is $54,152. This is 19% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $186,200. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 56.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Columbia city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.6% vs 7.1%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.5% vs 1.7%).

Education

38.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% higher than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Columbia city, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.