Photo by natalie on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@ddotjpg)
West Columbia, South Carolina Retirement Guide
established retirement community
56
Retirement Score
West Columbia, South Carolina at a Glance
- Median Home Price
- $178,000
- State Income Tax
- State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; generous retirement income deduction.
- Avg January Low
- N/A
- Cost of Living Index
- 93.3 (US avg = 100)
- Best For
- established retirement community
- RetireCityIQ Score
- 56 / 100
Retirement Data
Affordability
Cost of Living Index
93.3 (U.S. avg = 100)Medium confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated March 2026
Median Home Price
$178,000High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$982High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Taxes
Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; generous retirement income deduction.Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026
Retiree Readiness (Sprint 2)
Care Access Score (proxy)Data not available
Aging-in-Place Score (proxy)
35.1 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated April 2026
Healthcare
Healthcare Access ScoreData not available
Climate
Avg July HighData not available
Avg January LowData not available
Annual PrecipitationData not available
Sunny Days / YearData not available
Safety
Safety Score
78.1 / 100Medium confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated March 2026
Walkability
Walk Score (proxy)
8.4 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0.3 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026
Demographics
Population
17,459High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Age
37.3High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Age 65+
20.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Household Income
$52,648High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Community Profile
Owner-Occupied Housing
56.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Veterans
7.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
36.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Poverty Rate
14.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Diversity
White
67.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Black
17.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Hispanic/Latino
11.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Asian
3.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)
Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in West Columbia using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.
Estimated monthly carrying cost
$386
Stress-case monthly carrying cost
$433
Median home price used: $178,000
Median rent reference: $982 / month
Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.