MetricColumbia, SCCayce, SC
Population139,64313,741
Median Household Income$55,529$62,045
Median Rent$1,204/mo$1,360/mo
Median Home Value$264,300$166,800
Cost of Living (US = 100)9494
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income55.3%45.3%
Poverty Rate24%13.7%
Unemployment Rate4.9%3.8% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k791558
Property Crime Rate /100k3,1562,585
Median AQI47—
Good AQI Days /yr212—
Summer Highs91°F94°F
Winter Lows35°F38°F
Snowfall0 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute17.7 min19.6 min
Hospitals6—
Avg Hospital Rating3.8 / 5—
Students per Teacher12.514.5
College Degree Rate45.9%31.1%
Foreign-Born %5.8%5.9%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+7.5%-0.8%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.