ZIP Code · SC

ZIP 29169

Part of West Columbia, SC

Pop. 21,647·Lexington County·74th most expensive ZIP in South Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,562/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$370

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 29169 · $1,562

More affordable than 68% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$990

1 BR

$1,110

2 BR

$1,220

3 BR

$1,550

4 BR+

$1,830

Research median

$1,220/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 29169 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in ZIP 29169 changed +5.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($57,122) is $1,428 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,220); a 3-bedroom is $1,550.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 29210, 3 miles away, rents for 26% less ($1,161/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29169. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,744/yr

At $1,562/mo median

Location

CityWest Columbia

StateSC

CountyLexington County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.7% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 29169 (West Columbia, SC) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 41.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,647

Median income

$57,122

Median age

38.9

Renters

46.7%

Age distribution

17.7%

27.1%

21.5%

23.1%

Under 1817.7%

18–3427.1%

35–5421.5%

55–6410.5%

65+23.1%

Gender

46.6%

53.4%

Male46.6%

Female53.4%

Race & ethnicity

63.3%

16.5%

13.2%

White63.3%

Black16.5%

Hispanic13.2%

Asian3.6%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

22.2%

25.5%

41.3%

No HS diploma11%

HS diploma22.2%

Some college25.5%

Bachelor's+41.3%

Housing tenure

53.3%

46.7%

Owner53.3%

Renter46.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 29169 in West Columbia, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,205 → $1,562

up 29.6%

Income

$46,065 → $57,122

up 24.0%

Population

21,690 → 21,647

down 0.2%

Renter share

46% → 46.7%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

34.6% → 41.3%

+6.7 pts

Median age

40.2 → 38.9

-1.3 yrs

Compared with 2022, rent in ZIP 29169 in West Columbia, SC has climbed by $357 per month, settling near $1,562 after starting the period at $1,205. Median household income grew from $46,065 to $57,122 between 2021 and 2024, a 24.0% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 34.6% to 41.3%. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 29169 in West Columbia, SC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 29169

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 29169 covers West Columbia, SC. The median rent here is $1,562/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,110/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,220/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($57,122/yr), ZIP 29169 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 29169?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,562/mo in ZIP 29169. The local median household income is $57,122/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 29169?

Rent in ZIP 29169 has risen 5.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

How does ZIP 29169 compare to other ZIPs in South Carolina?

ZIP 29169 is in the middle among South Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #74 of 117 at $1,562/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 29169 changed +5.7%, against a typical +3.4% across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.