Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Columbia

Columbia, SC ranks #6 of 8 South Carolina metros on 12-month change in the metropolitan unemployment rate—-0.7%—a sign of sustained labor market stability in the Midlands. This slow cooling, compared to faster-declining markets like Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, suggests housing demand is being supported by enduring job security, not just short-term speculation. As the nation grapples with volatility, Columbia’s stability is a competitive edge. This data comes directly from ALEX Intelligence’s proprietary analysis of BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, published November 9, 2026: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-09-columbia-sc-lab-bls-unemp-rate-chg-12m-msa. How does your market compare? What does this mean for long-term real estate strategy? 12-month change in the metropolitan unemployment rate (September 2026), top 8 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2026) #1 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC — -1.0% #2 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC — -0.9% #3 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC — -0.8% #4 Spartanburg, SC — -0.8% #5 Florence, SC — -0.8% #6 Columbia, SC — -0.7% #7 Charleston-North Charleston, SC — -0.7% #8 Sumter, SC — -0.6% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: John Horne (Public domain) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=5751144; Slide 2: Abductive (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=12821226; Slide 3: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142524943; Slide 4: Childofwalrus (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=174843530 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-09-columbia-sc-lab-bls-unemp-rate-chg-12m-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