29210 and 29203 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
29210
29203
Opportunity
55 · Top 49%
vs51 · Bottom 43%
Growth
90 · Top 1%
vs90 · Top 1%
Climate
72 · Top 44%
vs75 · Top 30%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 44%
vs66 · Top 41%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 37%
vs74 · Bottom 41%
Schools
24 · Bottom 15%
vs19 · Bottom 9%
Access
98 · Top 21%
vs97 · Top 26%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 16%
vs32 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | 29210 | 29203 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,962 | 40,653 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $50,871 | $46,054 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,044 | $25,580 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,384/sq mi | 653/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $194,400 | $141,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,117 | $1,110 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 36.3% | 48.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.6% | 2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 22.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 26.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,198 | 3,198 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 22.9 | 22.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 106.6% | 106.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.2" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.8 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.69 | 11.47 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 19.2% | 9.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 21.3% | 16.2% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
29210
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
29203
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Full profiles: 29210 — Columbia, SC · 29203 — Columbia, SC · How this is calculated: methodology