ROIStack
Market Intelligence

Columbia, SC

Updated quarterly · Data sourced from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI, Census ACS, and FHFA. · South Carolina overview

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Home Value

$235k+3.1%

Median Rent

$1,450+4.9%

Per month average

Gross Yield

7.40%

Annual rent / value

Rent / Price

0.617%

1% rule benchmark

HH Income

$65,000

Median household

Owner-Occ

65.0%

Renter-Occ

35.0%

Tenant demand share

Population

840k

Metro area census

Market Analysis

The Columbia, SC real estate market currently sits at a median home value of $235k with median rents around $1,450/month, producing a gross yield of 7.40%. That puts Columbia in the category of solid gross yield, right at the 7% LTR sweet spot. Over the past year, home values are up 3.1%, while rents rose 4.9%, the gap between those two trends is what determines whether yield compresses or expands over time for buy-and-hold investors in South Carolina. Columbia is an owner-occupier market (65% owner-occupied) where investor competition is generally lighter, with median household income of $65,000 setting the affordability ceiling on future rent growth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?
As of late 2025, the median rent in Columbia is approximately $1,450 per month, with rent growth of 4.9% year over year.
Is Columbia a good market for rental property investing?
Columbia produces a gross rental yield of about 7.40%. That is above the 7% threshold most long-term rental investors target, making it an attractive cash-flow market. Run your specific numbers in a calculator before committing capital.
What is the median home price in Columbia?
The median home value in Columbia, SC is approximately $235,000, up 3.1% from a year ago.
How have home prices changed in Columbia over the past year?
Home values in Columbia have moved 3.1% year over year, while rents have changed by 4.9%. This price-to-rent gap is the single biggest driver of long-term rental investor returns in the South Carolina market.
What is the rent-to-price ratio in Columbia?
Columbia has a rent-to-price ratio of 0.617%, meaning monthly rent is about 0.617% of the home's price. The "1% rule" used by buy-and-hold investors looks for 1.0%+; this market falls short of that bar, which is typical for most large US metros today.

Nearby South Carolina markets

Greenville, SCCharleston, SC

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