ZIP 29209
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
March. Asking rents in ZIP 29209 usually run 0.7% below trend in March and 0.8% above it in July, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 29209 is 0.5% below its high of $1,545 in April 2026, at $1,537 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 29209 changed +0.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 29209 rose 47.1% while median household income rose 2.7% ($57,200 to $58,772). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 29209 is 51.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,772) is $1,469 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,390); a 3-bedroom is $1,770.
6th cheapest of 10 ZIP codes in Columbia.
ZIP 29033, 6 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,369/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29209. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 29209 (Columbia, SC) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 29209 in Columbia, SC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 29209 in Columbia, SC has climbed by $427 per month, settling near $1,537 after starting the period at $1,110. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 29209 in Columbia, SC now reports about $58,772, up from $55,255 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 32.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 37,365 to 38,041 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 37.8% to 40.2%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 29209 in Columbia, SC reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 29209
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 29209 covers Columbia, SC. The median rent here is $1,537/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,270/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,390/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($58,772/yr), ZIP 29209 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 29209 compare to the rest of Columbia?
At $1,537/mo, rent takes ~31% of ZIP 29209's median household income ($58,772/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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