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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



West Columbia, SC Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

West Columbia, SC Housing Market Trends

With a population of 17,618, 8,162 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $246,195, West Columbia real estate and house prices are near the national average for all cities and towns.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in West Columbia, accounting for 59.81% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in West Columbia include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 19.22%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 12.37%), and a few mobile homes or trailers ( 4.76%).

People in West Columbia primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) single-family detached homes. West Columbia has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. West Columbia's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 41.16% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in West Columbia include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 34.44%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 20.49%). There's also some housing in West Columbia built before 1939 ( 3.92%).

West Columbia Home Appreciation Rates

Appreciation rates for homes in West Columbia have been tracking above average for the last ten years, according to NeighborhoodScout data. The cumulative appreciation rate over the ten years has been 93.91%, which ranks in the top 40% nationwide. This equates to an annual average West Columbia house appreciation rate of 6.85%.

Appreciation rates are so strong in West Columbia that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, West Columbia real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, West Columbia appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 7.71%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 80.55% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in West Columbia. West Columbia appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 0.99%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 4.01%.

Relative to South Carolina, our data show that West Columbia's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 70% of the other cities and towns in South Carolina.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within West Columbia differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in West Columbia - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best West Columbia real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$246,195

West Columbia, SC Home Prices
> $1,444,000
$1,083,001 - $1,444,000
$722,001 - $1,083,000
$578,001 - $722,000
$433,001 - $578,000
$289,001 - $433,000
$144,001 - $289,000
$72,001 - $144,000
$0 - $72,000
1.1%
1.1%
0.8%
0.8%
1.0%
1.0%
3.9%
3.9%
7.9%
7.9%
23.0%
23.0%
43.5%
43.5%
11.4%
11.4%
7.4%
7.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
High

for South carolina

Average

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

8,162

West Columbia Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,574 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
55.3%
55.3%
44.7%
44.7%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
5.9%
5.9%
94.1%
94.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
20.5%
20.5%
34.4%
34.4%
41.2%
41.2%
3.9%
3.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
59.8%
59.8%
3.8%
3.8%
12.4%
12.4%
19.2%
19.2%
4.8%
4.8%
0.0%
0.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
2.7%
2.7%
8.6%
8.6%
39.0%
39.0%
38.0%
38.0%
10.0%
10.0%
1.7%
1.7%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes