ZIP Code · SC

ZIP 29203

Part of Columbia, SC

Pop. 40,653·Richland County·98th most expensive ZIP in South Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,385/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$547

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 29203 · $1,385

More affordable than 81% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,010

1 BR

$1,140

2 BR

$1,250

3 BR

$1,590

4 BR+

$1,870

Research median

$1,250/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

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 29203 usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 1% above it in July, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 29203 is 0.4% below its high of $1,391 in June 2025, at $1,385 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in ZIP 29203 changed +1.4% 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 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($46,054) is $1,151 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,140); a 2-bedroom is $1,250.

Rank in Columbia

2nd cheapest of 10 ZIP codes in Columbia.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 29210, 5 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,161/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29203. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,620/yr

At $1,385/mo median

Location

CityColumbia

StateSC

CountyRichland County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.4% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 29203 (Columbia, SC) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 22.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,653

Median income

$46,054

Median age

34.6

Renters

51.3%

Age distribution

24%

26.4%

22%

15.9%

Under 1824%

18–3426.4%

35–5422%

55–6411.6%

65+15.9%

Gender

48.8%

51.2%

Male48.8%

Female51.2%

Race & ethnicity

13.7%

80.2%

White13.7%

Black80.2%

Hispanic3.4%

Asian0.5%

Other2.2%

Education (25+)

14.4%

32.2%

31%

22.3%

No HS diploma14.4%

HS diploma32.2%

Some college31%

Bachelor's+22.3%

Housing tenure

48.7%

51.3%

Owner48.7%

Renter51.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 29203 in Columbia, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$956 → $1,385

up 44.9%

Income

$33,952 → $46,054

up 35.6%

Population

41,047 → 40,653

down 1.0%

Renter share

54.1% → 51.3%

-2.8 pts

Bachelor's+

20.8% → 22.3%

+1.5 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 29203 in Columbia, SC paid around $956 a month. That figure now sits near $1,385, up 44.9% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 29203 in Columbia, SC now reports about $46,054, up from $33,952 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 29203 in Columbia, SC losing about 394 residents over the five-year window, down 1.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 54.1% to 51.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 29203 in Columbia, SC reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 29203

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 29203 covers Columbia, SC. The median rent here is $1,385/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,250/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($46,054/yr), ZIP 29203 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 29203?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,385/mo in ZIP 29203. The local median household income is $46,054/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 29203?

Rent in ZIP 29203 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.4% below its high of $1,391 in June 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 29203?

Asking rents in ZIP 29203 are usually lowest in January, about 0.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $24 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 29203 compare to other ZIPs in South Carolina?

ZIP 29203 is one of the more affordable among South Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #98 of 117 at $1,385/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 29203 changed +1.4%, against a typical +3.4% across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.