ZIP Code · SC

ZIP 29229

Part of Columbia, SC

Pop. 51,861·Richland County·35th most expensive ZIP in South Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,788/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.6%

Month-over-Month

-0.4%

vs US Median

-$144

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 29229 · $1,788

More affordable than 52% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,430

1 BR

$1,610

2 BR

$1,770

3 BR

$2,250

4 BR+

$2,650

Research median

$1,770/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 29229 usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.5% above it in July, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 29229 is 0.4% below its high of $1,795 in July 2026, at $1,788 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in ZIP 29229 changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 29229 rose 46% while median household income rose 3.1% ($71,803 to $74,043). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 29229 is 49% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,043) is $1,851 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,770); a 3-bedroom is $2,250.

Rank in Columbia

9th cheapest of 10 ZIP codes in Columbia.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 29223, 4 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,464/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29229. 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

$21,456/yr

At $1,788/mo median

Location

CityColumbia

StateSC

CountyRichland County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.6% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 29229 (Columbia, SC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 43.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

51,861

Median income

$74,043

Median age

35.2

Renters

29.9%

Age distribution

28.7%

21.1%

27%

13.1%

Under 1828.7%

18–3421.1%

35–5427%

55–6413.1%

65+10.2%

Gender

43.6%

56.4%

Male43.6%

Female56.4%

Race & ethnicity

23.7%

63.4%

White23.7%

Black63.4%

Hispanic7.3%

Asian3.6%

Other2%

Education (25+)

19.5%

31.8%

43.9%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma19.5%

Some college31.8%

Bachelor's+43.9%

Housing tenure

70.1%

29.9%

Owner70.1%

Renter29.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 29229 in Columbia, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,309 → $1,788

up 36.6%

Income

$72,143 → $74,043

up 2.6%

Population

49,350 → 51,861

up 5.1%

Renter share

31.1% → 29.9%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

42.1% → 43.9%

+1.8 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 29229 in Columbia, SC has climbed from $1,309 to $1,788, a 36.6% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $72,143 in 2021 to $74,043 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.1% since 2021, moving from about 49,350 residents to roughly 51,861. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 29229 in Columbia, SC market of 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 29229

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 29229 covers Columbia, SC. The median rent here is $1,788/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,610/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,770/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($74,043/yr), ZIP 29229 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 29229?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,788/mo in ZIP 29229. The local median household income is $74,043/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 29229?

Rent in ZIP 29229 has risen 0.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.4% below its high of $1,795 in July 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 29229?

Asking rents in ZIP 29229 are usually lowest in January, about 0.8% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $23 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 29229?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 29229 rose 46% while median household income rose 3.1%, from $71,803 to $74,043. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 29229 compare to other ZIPs in South Carolina?

ZIP 29229 is one of the pricier among South Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #35 of 117 at $1,788/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 29229 changed +0.6%, against a typical +3.4% across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.