Signals
Orangeburg
Columbus
Growth
35 · Bottom 27%
vs37 · Bottom 29%
Climate
77 · Top 13%
vs69 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
34 · Bottom 22%
vs44 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 38%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
78 · Top 47%
vs88 · Top 29%
Economic stability
10 · Bottom 2%
vs21 · Bottom 11%
Measured values
| Metric | Orangeburg | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,253 | 67,863 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $45,675 | $51,117 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,036 | $29,086 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 75/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $115,800 | $150,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $841 | $916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.0% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 18.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 104 | 143 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 15.6% | 7.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 57.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 39 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 38.2 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Orangeburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Columbus
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
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Orangeburg
54
Your Score
—
Area Score
Columbus
59
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Orangeburg, SC Micro Area · Columbus, MS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology