Local Expert's Top 8: Affordable Columbia, SC Neighborhoods for Quality Living

I'm Kama, the ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Columbia, South Carolina. When my husband, daughter, and I moved to the state in 2019, we were excited to have so many nearby cities to explore — Atlanta, Greenville, and Charlotte are all only a couple of hours away. While we love all those places, Columbia quickly jumped to the top of our list.

There's something for everyone in Columbia. We're big foodies, so we love visiting the Soda City Market to take advantage of local vendors and food trucks. When we want to spend time outdoors, we can go to Lake Murray or one of the dozens of parks in the area. Columbia as a whole is growing quickly because of job growth in technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Columbia

That said, the city remains relatively affordable, especially in certain areas. In this guide, I share the eight Columbia neighborhoods where cost and quality of living have the best balance.

1. Irmo and Seven Oaks

If you're looking for a suburban feel without being isolated from the city, Irmo and Seven Oaks are my top picks. We love this particular part of the state because it's just off I-26 between Columbia and the Upstate, where we lived for five years. This has made it easy for us to run to Greenville or Spartanburg for day trips to visit old friends. At the same time, it's an easy commute to the heart of the city when we want to attend events or go shopping.

We're a laid-back family, so Irmo's quiet atmosphere is right up our alley. We love to visit The Bistro restaurant for a nice meal or take a quick drive to Lake Murray for a walk. Irmo is known for having strong public schools, particularly Spring Hill High School, which gets a 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools. Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health Baptist Parkride Hospital are also close by.

You can find a lot of single-family homes for rent in Irmo and Seven Oaks, along with multiple apartment complexes in the area. Keep in mind, the closer you are to the lake, the higher your rent will be, but that's true no matter what Columbia neighborhood you choose.

2. Whitehall

Another peaceful neighborhood in Columbia is Whitehall. It's primarily a residential area, but it's near plenty of good shopping and restaurants. One of the most popular is the Seven Oaks Shopping Center, where we grab essentials when we're in the area.

My favorite aspect of Whitehall is how family-friendly it is. Most of the people I know who live here are young families or retirees. It's quiet in the evenings, so I feel comfortable taking my daughter for a stroll on the weekend. We're also water people, and knowing Lake Murray is only a 15-minute drive away is a huge plus.

3. Harbison

We've never lived in Harbison, but I've always been fascinated by the way it blends natural beauty with shopping and convenience. The neighborhood itself has 12 miles of paved trails, so we can walk around the area without having to dodge heavy traffic or race across a crosswalk.

I grew up in the mountains, so easy access to nature is something I always look for, and the Harbison trails have it in spades. The paths snake through a wilderness wildlife habitat with lots of birds and animals, especially around the lakes where we love to watch the ducks and geese.

At the same time, Harbison Boulevard is home to some of the best shopping spots in the area, including the Columbiana Centre and Harbison Court. We especially like to visit around the holidays because they have all our favorite big-name stores. All that shopping naturally translates to pretty heavy traffic. If you don't feel like driving, you can find several COMET bus stops along Harbison Boulevard, including the Walmart SuperStop, which can get you into downtown without worrying about parking.

4. Historic Waverly

Columbia is well-known for its historic neighborhoods with beautiful homes, churches, and museums. We'll start with Historic Waverly, which is home to Benedict College. As a former college instructor, I love walking down Harden Street and taking in the brick buildings and gold and purple signs around the school.

Waverly is within walking distance of stores, gas stations, and restaurants. It has an urban but nostalgic feel, and it's also only a mile from the University of South Carolina (go Gamecocks!), making it a great option for students at either college.

5. Robert Mills Historic District

I could spend days exploring all the historic sites around Columbia, but the Robert Mills House and Gardens is hands down my favorite. The district was named for the nation's first federal architect, who also designed this incredible building. When you approach, you'll see towering white columns and stretches of green grass, perfect for having a picnic on a warm afternoon.

The apartments in the Robert Mills Historic District are often in converted homes or smaller complexes. Because it's close to the University of South Carolina but also full of historic homes, it has a great mix of residents, from students to young professionals to retirees who have lived there for decades.

6. Bull Street

Bull Street brings together renovated old buildings with modern, minimalist complexes. It's one of the most buzzworthy communities in the state, a huge hit with students and young professionals. Although it's located on the edge of downtown Columbia and has a distinctly urban feel, the neighborhood also has a lot of natural elements.

One of the biggest attractions is Segra Park, which hosts the Columbia Fireflies, a Minor League Baseball team. We've never caught a game there, but we have attended concerts, fireworks, and other children's events. Another place I like to spend time is Page Ellington Park, which has a dog park, walking paths, a pond, and Smith Branch Creek. It's a great place to sit at a picnic shelter and have lunch or watch your kids play.

This area is growing rapidly, so rents are going up. Fortunately, it's still affordable if you can find the right space. Rentals are competitive, but if you look just outside the district limits, you can find complexes and converted homes at a better price.

7. Elmwood Park

Just north of downtown Columbia is Elmwood Park, a neighborhood with restored homes, gardens, and a vibrant community. It has walkable sidewalks and easy access to downtown and the University of South Carolina. For that reason, it's popular with professionals, young families, and artists.

The area has several large apartment complexes, as well as townhouses, and some have community pools. The Elmwood Park neighborhood is also well known for its porch parties, which different residents host each month. I've never been lucky enough to attend one, but friends who live in the area say they create an incredibly welcoming atmosphere.

Elmwood Park is also adjacent to the first place my family ever visited in Columbia, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Along with animals and flowers, it has a splash pad for kids to use during the summer and a holiday light display in the winter.

8. Cottontown Bellevue

Cottontown, also known as the Bellevue Historic District, is charming, eclectic, and friendly. The streets are lined with bungalows and neighbors chatting on their covered front porches. That sounds like a scene from a movie, but it's true, so much so that the community put together an annual event just to spend time together and share their love of art.

I first visited to attend the Cottontown Art Crawl, an outdoor festival. Dozens of artists set up their sculptures, paintings, drawings, and jewelry around the neighborhood and invite visitors to look (and buy) their pieces. If that's not enough of a draw, the event also features live music and food trucks, so you can grab some dinner while you take in the artwork.

One of my favorite things about Cottontown is how much it has stayed the same, even as the surrounding city has changed. It's just north of the downtown business district, but you'd never know it when walking by the former Coca-Cola Bottling plant or grabbing a cup of coffee at a local shop.