Columbia receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Spartanburg
Columbia
Opportunity
59 · Top 43%
vs71 · Top 21%
Growth
90 · Top 1%
vs88 · Top 1%
Climate
76 · Top 14%
vs75 · Top 19%
Physical resilience
68 · Top 32%
vs61 · Top 44%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 38%
vs89 · Bottom 34%
Access
85 · Top 34%
vs98 · Top 8%
Economic stability
53 · Top 47%
vs57 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Spartanburg | Columbia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 374,737 | 849,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,382 | $68,359 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,580 | $37,960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 283/sq mi | 229/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,000 | $232,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,057 | $1,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.8% | 69.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 3.0% | 2.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 35.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 14.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,460 | 7,101 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 11.9 | 8.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 14.8% | 29.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.7" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 31 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.2 | 37.6 | 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
Spartanburg
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, cold wave, earthquake.
Columbia
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Spartanburg
75
Your Score
74
Area Score
Columbia
77
Your Score
76
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Spartanburg, SC Metro Area · Columbia, SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology