The typical owner-occupied home in West Columbia is worth about $201,700, 22% below the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 39% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,086 a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of their home's value, higher than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $56,912 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 55% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.
West Columbia at a glance
| West Columbia | South Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,700 | $259,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,086 | $1,251 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.54% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,912 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 55% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 55% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,244 | $1,529 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.4% | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,201 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.7% | 31.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1976 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.6% | 13.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 17,963 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in West Columbia
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Columbia home of $201,700 with 20% down costs about $1,260 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,596, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $54,012 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median West Columbia household income of $56,912; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $213,000.
The median rent here is $1,201 a month, so owning the median home costs about $59 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $40,340 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $161,360 |
| Principal and interest | $1,085 |
| Property taxes (0.54% a year) | $91 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $84 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,260 |
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| Down payment | $7,060 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $198,047 |
| Principal and interest | $1,332 |
| Property taxes (0.54% a year) | $91 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $84 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $89 |
| Total per month | $1,596 |
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Questions about home buying in West Columbia
What is the median home value in West Columbia?
About $201,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in West Columbia?
Homeowners pay a median $1,086 a year, which is about 0.54% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in West Columbia?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,260 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $54,012 a year.
More about West Columbia
- Mortgage Refinance in West Columbia
- Debt Relief in West Columbia
- Home Equity Loans in West Columbia
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data