1st Advantage MortgageRichland County households have a median income of $63,784 and median rent of $1,228 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's South Carolina license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Richland County
- Work, industries and travel time in Richland County
- Income in Richland County compared with South Carolina
- What it costs to live in Richland County
- Richland County against other South Carolina counties
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Richland County
- What the numbers mean for Richland County borrowers
- Age, degrees and coverage in Richland County
- A Richland County household budget, worked through
- South Carolina lender licensing
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Richland County
With an estimated 422,117 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Richland County ranks 2nd of 46 in South Carolina for population. It covers 757 square miles of land, or about 557 people per square mile. Metro area: Columbia, SC (OMB, 2023). Of the 15 Census places inside Richland County, Columbia leads by population with about 139,643; 6 of the 15 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Richland County
Education and health care (25%), professional and administrative services (11%) and retail trade (11%) lead Richland County's job mix. Richland County over-indexes on public administration: 8% versus 4% in South Carolina. Unemployment in Richland County, ACS five-year: 6.4%; South Carolina: 4.9%. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Richland County share | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +3.4 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Richland County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Income in Richland County compared with South Carolina
At $63,784, the typical Richland County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 17th of 46.
| Band | Richland County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.9% | 0.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Richland County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Richland County counts about 72,602 residents below the poverty line, 17.2% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.485 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Richland County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Richland County
Richland County rent at the median: $1,228 a month, utilities in ($1,180 in South Carolina). By the Census definition, 59% of Richland County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $242,800; median income $63,784; ratio 3.8. In Richland County, 60% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1989.
| Richland County | South Carolina | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,228/mo | $1,180/mo | 4% higher |
| Median home value | $242,800 | $259,000 | 6% lower |
| Owners | 60% | 72% | -11.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 52% | +6.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | +1.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 14.2% | -9.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 13% | -2.8 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Richland County against other South Carolina counties
Ranked against the other 45 county-level areas in South Carolina, these are the Richland County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few South Carolina counties match Richland County on homeownership: 60% here, 72% for the state, ranking the lowest of 46. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- Richland County ranks the lowest of 46 South Carolina counties for median age: 34.4, against 40.2 statewide. Younger borrowers often have thin credit files; a co-signer or credit union may help.
- The share of mobile homes: 4.5% in Richland County, the lowest of 46 in South Carolina. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Lexington County at 23 miles out to Lee County at 38. Lexington County leads the group on income ($77,408), Lee County trails ($44,760), and Richland County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | - | $63,784 | $1,228/mo | 60% |
| Lexington County, SC | 23 mi | $77,408 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
| Calhoun County, SC | 25 mi | $58,682 | $1,052/mo | 85% |
| Kershaw County, SC | 28 mi | $68,231 | $971/mo | 82% |
| Fairfield County, SC | 29 mi | $47,885 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Sumter County, SC | 31 mi | $56,693 | $1,057/mo | 68% |
| Lee County, SC | 38 mi | $44,760 | $823/mo | 70% |
The communities that make up Richland County
The table lists the 14 largest of 15 Census places in Richland County, by population. Together all 15 hold about 234,605 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $21,046 in Arthurtown to $119,107 in Lake Murray of Richland. One of them, Columbia, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | city | 139,643 | $55,529 | $1,204 | 1 mi |
| St. Andrews | CDP | 19,868 | $46,511 | $1,088 | 12 mi |
| Dentsville | CDP | 15,209 | $45,473 | $1,250 | 5 mi |
| Cayce | city | 13,741 | $62,045 | $1,360 | 10 mi |
| Forest Acres | city | 10,530 | $78,306 | $1,263 | 4 mi |
| Woodfield | CDP | 9,465 | $45,526 | $1,169 | 3 mi |
| Lake Murray of Richland | CDP | 7,023 | $119,107 | $1,944 | 22 mi |
| Blythewood | town | 5,731 | $94,167 | $1,107 | 14 mi |
| Capitol View | CDP | 4,374 | $46,645 | $1,181 | 5 mi |
| Arthurtown | CDP | 3,272 | $21,046 | $830 | 7 mi |
| Hopkins | CDP | 1,985 | $50,063 | $799 | 9 mi |
| Gadsden | CDP | 1,443 | $52,966 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Olympia | CDP | 935 | $29,663 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Arcadia Lakes | town | 901 | $103,250 | n/a | 4 mi |
What the numbers mean for Richland County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Richland County borrowers.
- Tight rental budgets. With 59% of Richland County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Age, degrees and coverage in Richland County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 41% of Richland County adults. 8.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Richland County | +/- South Carolina | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | -5.8 yrs | -7.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.7% | +8.6 pts | +18.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | -2.1 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | -1.0 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | +1.5 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Work from home | 12.5% | +1.0 pts | +3.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | +3.1 pts | +4.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | +1.6 pts | +2.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Richland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
A Richland County household budget, worked through
DTI math using Richland County medians ($63,784 income, $1,228 rent):
- Start: $5,315 gross per month ($63,784 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,228, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $2,126 total minus rent leaves $898
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Richland County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
South Carolina lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Richland County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Carolina that is the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending in South Carolina is also overseen by the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Richland County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Richland County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Richland County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $63,784 a good income in Richland County?
It is the county median, so half of Richland County households earn more and half less; 30% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Richland County?
$1,228 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Which towns does the Richland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Columbia, St. Andrews, Dentsville, Cayce, Forest Acres.
Will a Richland County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming South Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects Richland County borrowers?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.