Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Columbia, SC metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Columbia, SC metro area's all-transactions index changed +3.6% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +3.8% for South Carolina and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 182nd of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +3.6%
- 5-year change
- +51.6%
- Since Q1 1995
- +231%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 182nd
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Columbia, SC vs South Carolina and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Columbia, SC: 331.3
- South Carolina: 397.2
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | SC | U.S. | Gap vs SC | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.6% | +3.8% | +3.0% | −0.3 pts | +0.5 pts |
| 3 years | +15.4% | +16.6% | +12.9% | −1.2 pts | +2.5 pts |
| 5 years | +51.6% | +54.9% | +41.3% | −3.2 pts | +10.3 pts |
| 10 years | +102% | +114% | +93.3% | −12.0 pts | +8.8 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +231% | +297% | +292% | −65.8 pts | −60.2 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Columbia, SC area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 292 · Columbia, SC area | SC | +5.8% | +51.8% | +232% | 100% |
| 290 · Lexington, SC area | SC | +1.8% | +53.6% | +238% | 76% |
| 291 · Sumter, SC area | SC | +6.1% | +54.6% | +239% | 30% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Columbia, SC area
Columbia, SC area's index peaked in Q1 2009, fell 12.7% to its low in Q1 2014, and regained its peak in Q3 2017, about 8.5 years after the top. Today it sits +90.6% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2009 | Q1 2014 | -12.7% | Q3 2017 (8.5 yrs) | +90.6% |
| SC | Q1 2008 | Q2 2012 | -13.0% | Q3 2016 (8.5 yrs) | +110% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Columbia, SC area's index has changed +49.6% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | SC after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -0.3% | -0.0% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +5.1% | +6.2% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +22.2% | +24.9% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +45.4% | +54.0% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +49.6% | +79.4% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Columbia, SC area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +229% | $988,425 |
| Q2 2000 | +169% | $807,310 |
| Q2 2005 | +114% | $642,924 |
| Q2 2010 | +102% | $604,525 |
| Q2 2015 | +106% | $617,827 |
| Q2 2020 | +69.7% | $509,201 |
| Q2 2021 | +51.6% | $454,860 |
| Q2 2023 | +15.4% | $346,195 |
| Q2 2025 | +3.6% | $310,710 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Columbia, SC area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Columbia, SC metro area shows changes of +3.6% over one year, +51.6% over five years, and +102% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +231% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Columbia, SC area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +0.5 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +10.3 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.