Who moves to Columbia, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Richland County, SC, home of Columbia, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 24,380from other US counties
- Moved out
- 23,435to other US counties
- Net
- +945more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 374tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | 4,779 |
| Kershaw County, SC | 821 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 708 |
| Sumter County, SC | 558 |
| York County, SC (Rock Hill) | 449 |
| Charleston County, SC (Charleston) | 406 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 381 |
| Fairfield County, SC | 360 |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 355 |
| Florence County, SC | 296 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 261 |
| Aiken County, SC | 251 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | 5,649 |
| Kershaw County, SC | 1,412 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 700 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 480 |
| Charleston County, SC (Charleston) | 443 |
| Sumter County, SC | 420 |
| Fairfield County, SC | 395 |
| Newberry County, SC | 307 |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 268 |
| Berkeley County, SC | 233 |
| Aiken County, SC | 220 |
| Horry County, SC | 219 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 11,425 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in South Carolina and 12,955 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Charleston County, SC (Charleston) | 406 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 381 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 261 |
| Horry County, SC | 234 |
| El Paso County, TX (El Paso) | 179 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 174 |
| Bell County, TX (Killeen) | 145 |
| Pierce County, WA (Tacoma) | 137 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 480 |
| Charleston County, SC (Charleston) | 443 |
| Horry County, SC | 219 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 190 |
| Fulton County, GA (Atlanta) | 144 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 144 |
| El Paso County, TX (El Paso) | 138 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 132 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Columbia come from?
Most people moving into Richland County, SC come from nearby counties, led by Lexington County, SC (4,779 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Charleston County, SC.
Where do people leaving Columbia move to?
The top destination is Lexington County, SC (5,649 people). Farther away, the most popular is Greenville County, SC.
Are more people moving to Columbia or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 24,380 people moved into Richland County, SC from elsewhere in the US and 23,435 moved out, a net gain of 945 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Columbia with any city it trades people with, like Columbia vs Charleston, Columbia vs Greenville, Columbia vs Fayetteville, Columbia vs El Paso.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Columbia.