Columbia, SC vs Fort Mill, SC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Columbia
73.8
#670 nationally
Fort Mill
72.6
#858 nationally
Fort Mill leads in crime level (1.3 vs 21.1). Fort Mill leads in median household income ($128,125 vs $54,095). Columbia leads in average commute (17.4 min vs 27 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Fort Mill, SC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#670) | 72.6 (#858) |
| Population | 142,416 | 33,626 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $230,662 | $529,805 |
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $128,125 |
| Average Commute | 17.4 min | 27 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 21.1 | 1.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+33.5 | R+19.1 |
Data coverage note: Fort Mill is missing data for 1 metric that Columbia has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
73.8 Score
Columbia, SC
Mid-size South Carolina city with community character
Median Home
$230,662
Population
142,416
Crime
High
Walk Score
35
Southeast
View Columbia, SC →
C-
72.6 Score
Fort Mill, SC
Small South Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$529,805
Population
33,626
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$128,125
Southeast
View Fort Mill, SC →