Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Columbia

Columbia, SC ranks #4 of 8 South Carolina metros in real estate establishments — a sign not of speed, but of depth. With 875 licensed firms, the Midlands metro has built a mature, resilient market ecosystem. This isn’t about rapid growth; it’s about institutional strength. What does a market with 875 real estate firms signal about long-term stability? How might this foundation enable innovation in property tech? This insight comes directly from the U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022, published November 7, 2026. https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-columbia-sc-istand-531-msa Real Estate Establishments, top 8 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2022) #1 Charleston-North Charleston, SC — 1,584 #2 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC — 1,206 #3 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC — 909 #4 Columbia, SC — 875 #5 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC — 617 #6 Spartanburg, SC — 275 #7 Florence, SC — 108 #8 Sumter, SC — 49 Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Gruffbenji (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=63921360; Slide 2: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142524998; Slide 3: Thomas Kirchel (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=161386216; Slide 4: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142525165 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-columbia-sc-istand-531-msa View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902