Richland County, SC

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Population

414,576

0.725% growth

Median Age

33.5


Median Household Income

$52,159

0.41% growth

Poverty Rate

16.7%


Number of Employees

195,352

2.39% decline

Median Property Value

$163,600

2.73% decline

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2018, Richland County, SC had a population of 415k people with a median age of 33.5 and a median household income of $52,159. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Richland County, SC grew from 411,592 to 414,576, a 0.725% increase and its median household income grew from $51,946 to $52,159, a 0.41% increase.

The population of Richland County, SC is 46% Black or African American Alone, 41.9% White Alone, and 5.19% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Richland County, SC speak a non-English language, and 97.4% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Richland County, SC are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,467 degrees awarded in 2017), Columbia College (217934) (419 degrees), and South University-Columbia (398 degrees).

The median property value in Richland County, SC is $163,600, and the homeownership rate is 58.1%. Most people in Richland County, SC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 22.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Richland County, SC is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: State Capitol, Columbia, SC

Photo by Ron Cogswell

United StatesSouth CarolinaColumbia, SC

Economy

The economy of Richland County, SC employs 195k people. The largest industries in Richland County, SC are Health Care & Social Assistance (28,255 people), Retail Trade (23,813 people), and Educational Services (22,755 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($71,474), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($51,079), and Public Administration ($49,534).

Median household income in Richland County, SC is $52,159. Males in Richland County, SC have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $44,129. The income inequality in Richland County, SC (measured using the Gini index) is 0.464, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$52,159

2018 value

± $2,724

0.41%

1 Year Growth

± 7.09%

Households in Richland County, SC have a median annual income of $52,159, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $51,946 in 2017, which represents a 0.41% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Richland County, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

$59,728

Average Male Salary

± $1,565

$44,129

Average Female Salary

± $1,115

In 2018, full-time male employees in South Carolina made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in South Carolina by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $58,374 ± $10,504

  2. White

    $51,299 ± $1,155

  3. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

    $40,072 ± $12,512

In 2018 the highest paid race/ethnicity of South Carolina workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.14 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in South Carolina by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Richland County, SC is from South Carolina.

0.464

2018 Wage GINI

0.466

2017 Wage GINI

In 2018, the income inequality in South Carolina was 0.464 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.279% decline from 2017 to 2018, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even.

The 2018 the GINI for South Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 23

  2. Census Tract 12

  3. Census Tract 103.07

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Richland County, SC was Census Tract 23 with a value of $111,042, followed by Census Tract 12 and Census Tract 103.07, with respective values of $99,479 and $91,216.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Richland County, SC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

16.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Richland County, SC (62.7k out of 374k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. Black

    38,763 ± 1,626

  2. White

    17,727 ± 1,004

  3. Hispanic

    4,023 ± 494

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Richland County, SC is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

195k

2018 Value

± 8,736

-2.39%

1 Year decline

± 6.27%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Richland County, SC declined at a rate of -2.39%, from 200k employees to 195k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Richland County, SC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (24,106 people), Sales & Related Occupations (21,962 people), and Management Occupations (16,355 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Richland County, SC.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Richland County, SC, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (24,106 people), Sales & Related Occupations (21,962 people), and Management Occupations (16,355 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Richland County, SC has an unusually high number of residents working as Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (1.51 times higher than expected), Community & Social Service Occupations (1.38 times), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations (1.31 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Richland County, SC, by median earnings, are Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($68,219), Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($66,384), and Management Occupations ($60,012).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

195k

2018 Value

± 8,736

-2.39%

1 Year decline

± 6.27%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Richland County, SC declined at a rate of -2.39%, from 200k employees to 195k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Richland County, SC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (28,255 people), Retail Trade (23,813 people), and Educational Services (22,755 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Richland County, SC, though some of these residents may live in Richland County, SC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Richland County, SC, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (28,255 people), Retail Trade (23,813 people), and Educational Services (22,755 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Richland County, SC has an unusually high number of Public Administration (1.51 times higher than expected), Utilities (1.44 times), and Information (1.44 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Richland County, SC, by median earnings, are Utilities ($71,474), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($51,079), and Public Administration ($49,534).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Plastics/rubber

    $17.8B

  2. Machinery

    $17.1B

  3. Electronics

    $12.6B

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina product (by dollars) was Plastics/rubber with $17.8B, followed by Machinery ($17.1B) and Electronics ($12.6B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound South Carolina products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for South Carolina state.

$178B

2020 Value

$244B

Projected 2045 Value

37% growth

In 2020, total outbound South Carolina trade was $178B. This is expected to increase 37% to $244B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound South Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. North Carolina

    $24.2B

  2. Georgia

    $14.4B

  3. Tennessee

    $6.22B

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Carolina with $24.2B, followed by Georgia with $14.4B and Tennessee and $6.22B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that South Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

90.5% of the population of Richland County, SC has health coverage, with 47.6% on employee plans, 14.4% on Medicaid, 7.34% on Medicare, 16.7% on non-group plans, and 4.4% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Richland County, SC was $7,311 in 2014. This is a 4.15% increase from the previous year ($7,020).

Primary care physicians in Richland County, SC see 1176 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.759% decrease from the previous year (1185 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1194 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 341 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Dillon County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (20.1%). Additionally, Lee County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (42.8%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,176 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Richland County, SC see an average of 1,176 patients per year. This represents a 0.759% decrease from the previous year (1,185 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Richland County, SC in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

$7,311

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,235

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,491

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,298

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in South Carolina (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.15%, from $7,020 to $7,311.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

9.52%

Uninsured

47.6%

Employer Coverage

14.4%

Medicaid

7.34%

Medicare

16.7%

Non-Group

4.4%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Richland County, SC grew by 22.1% from 7.8% to 9.52%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Richland County, SC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Dillon County

    20.1% prevalence

  2. Williamsburg County

    19.6% prevalence

  3. Barnwell County

    18.7% prevalence

Dillon County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in South Carolina, at 20.1%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in South Carolina by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Richland County, SC is home to a population of 415k people, from which 97.4% are citizens. As of 2017, 5.48% of Richland County, SC residents were born outside of the country (22.6k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Richland County, SC is composed of 191k Black or African American Alone residents (46%), 174k White Alone residents (41.9%), 21.5k Hispanic or Latino residents (5.19%), 13.9k Two or More Races residents (3.34%), 12.5k Asian Alone residents (3.01%), 1.08k Some Other Race Alone residents (0.261%), 923 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.223%), and 384 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.0926%).

Age

Age by Nativity

33

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.4

42

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 3.6

In 2018, the median age of all people in Richland County, SC was 33.5. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 33, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 42. But people in Richland County, SC are getting getting younger. In 2017, the average age of all Richland County, SC residents was 34.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

5.48%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

22.6k people

5.17%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

21.2k people

As of 2017, 5.48% of Richland County, SC residents (22.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Richland County, SC was 5.17%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Richland County, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for South Carolina.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    62,118 ± 6,082 people

  2. India

    17,415 ± 3,234 people

  3. Germany

    13,326 ± 2,830 people

In 2018, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 62,118 South Carolina residents, followed by India with 17,415 and Germany with 13,326.

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Citizenship

97.4%

2018 Citizenship

96.9%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 97.4% of Richland County, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Richland County, SC was 96.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Richland County, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. Black or African American Alone

    191k ± 3.91k

  2. White Alone

    174k ± 780

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    21.5k ± 3.82k

In 2018, there were 1.1 times more Black or African American Alone residents (191k people) in Richland County, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 174k White Alone and 21.5k Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Richland County, SC as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Gulf War (2001-)

    8,966 ± 2,009

  2. Vietnam

    8,832 ± 1,052

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    5,816 ± 1,318

Richland County, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.02 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Richland County, SC awarded 12,069 degrees. The student population of Richland County, SC is skewed towards women, with 18,312 male students and 24,478 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Richland County, SC are White (7,837 and 67.4%), followed by Black or African American (2,488 and 21.4%), Hispanic or Latino (461 and 3.96%), and Two or More Races (294 and 2.53%).

The largest universities in Richland County, SC by number of degrees awarded are University of South Carolina-Columbia (9,467 and 78.4%), Columbia College (217934) (419 and 3.47%), and South University-Columbia (398 and 3.3%).

The most popular majors in Richland County, SC are General Business Administration & Management (700 and 5.8%), General Finance (477 and 3.95%), and General Marketing & Marketing Management (434 and 3.6%).

The median tuition costs in Richland County, SC are $17,714 for private four year colleges, and $11,462 and $31,562 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Business Administration & Management

    483 degrees awarded

  2. General Finance

    477 degrees awarded

  3. General Marketing & Marketing Management

    434 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Richland County, SC was General Business Administration & Management with 483 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Richland County, SC according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. University of South Carolina-Columbia

    9,467 degrees awarded

  2. Columbia College (217934)

    419 degrees awarded

  3. South University-Columbia

    398 degrees awarded

$11,462

Median In-State Public

$17,714

Median Private

In 2017, the Richland County, SC institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of South Carolina-Columbia with 9,467 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

4,985

Degrees Awarded to Men

7,084

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 4,985 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Richland County, SC, which is 0.704 times less than the 7,084 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Richland County, SC by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    7,837 degrees awarded

  2. Black or African American

    2,488 degrees awarded

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    461 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Richland County, SC were to White students. These 7,837 degrees mean that there were 3.15 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 2,488 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Richland County, SC was $163,600 in 2018, which is 0.712 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $168,200 to $163,600, a 2.73% decrease. The homeownership rate in Richland County, SC is 58.1%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Richland County, SC have an average commute time of 22.1 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Richland County, SC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$163,600

2018 Median

± $5,901

$168,200

2017 Median

± $5,700

In 2018, the median property value in Richland County, SC declined from to $163,600 from the previous year's value of $168,200.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Richland County, SC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Richland County, SC the largest share of households have a property value in the $125k - $150k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$52,159

Median Household Income

± $2,724

152k

Number of Households

± 6,801

In 2018, the median household income of the 152k households in Richland County, SC grew to $52,159 from the previous year's value of $51,946.

The following chart displays the households in Richland County, SC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $60k - $75k range.

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Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Richland County, SC distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Richland County, SC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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Rent vs Own

58.1%

2018 Homeownership

59.3%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 58.1% of the housing units in Richland County, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 59.3%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Richland County, SC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

22.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Richland County, SC have a shorter commute time (22.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.7 minutes). Additionally, 1.64% of the workforce in Richland County, SC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Richland County, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    76.6%

  2. Carpooled

    9.47%

  3. Walked

    7.51%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Richland County, SC was Drove Alone (76.6%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.47%) and those who Walked (7.51%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Richland County, SC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Richland County, SC have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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