What BestPlaces Users Say about Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina is the capital city of the state and is known for its rich history, vibrant arts and culture scene, and affordable cost of living. It is home to the University of South Carolina and has a population of over 131,000 residents. With its southern charm and unique blend of urban and rural areas, Columbia attracts a diverse population and has become a popular place to live. Let's take a look at what real users have to say about living in Columbia.
1. According to 's review, "I've lived in Columbia for over 10 years and I love it. The city has a great mix of small-town charm and big-city amenities. The cost of living is very reasonable and there are plenty of job opportunities." This review highlights the affordability and opportunities that Columbia offers to its residents.
2. shares their experience living in Columbia, stating, "I moved here from a larger city and I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and welcoming the people are. The community here is very close-knit and it's easy to make friends." This shows that Columbia has a strong sense of community and its residents are known for their southern hospitality.
3. "Columbia has something for everyone. There are great schools, beautiful parks, and diverse restaurants. I've lived here my whole life and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," says . This review highlights the family-friendly nature of the city and its variety of offerings for all ages.
4. However, not all reviews are positive. shares their dissatisfaction with living in Columbia, stating, "Traffic is terrible, the crime rate is high, and the weather can be extreme. I've had several negative experiences and I'm looking to move out of the city soon." This serves as a reminder that every city has its drawbacks and it's important to do thorough research before deciding to relocate.
In summary, Columbia, South Carolina has received mostly positive reviews from its residents. Its affordability, sense of community, and diverse offerings make it an attractive place to live. However, as with any city, there are also some negative aspects to consider. It's important for individuals to weigh the pros and cons and decide if Columbia is the right fit for them.
based on 50 ReviewsGet to know Columbia with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Columbia
Horrible place to live - 5/28/2009
I am from PA and relocated here 4 years ago. Housing is less expensive but services and basic products are much more costly due to a lack of competition among most retailers. My biggest complaint has to do with something no one has commented on and is yet extremely disturbing. If you happen to have a fairly decent job with pay above 90K (average in most NE cities) this puts you in the sudo upper class in columbia. I have found the overwhelming majority of people who consider themselves Christian college educated and successful to be so out of control self obsorbed, arrogant, fake, and generally unfriendly in every regard. Most native columbians are at the top of the list when it comes to being self centered and fake. The entire southern charm nonsense is long gone and these ignorant money hungry fools have some sort of weird misguided confidence about themselves all the while living in a third rate city that no one outside of a 100 mile radius cares about. My advice is to stay
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Housing - 11/3/2008
The cost of housing for rent in columbia does not match the salary range in Columbia. An average 2broom appt will rent from 975-1200 a
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Just moved here in May.... - 10/15/2008
I moved to Columbia five months ago, and have been entirely pleasantly suprised at what a great place Columbia is to live! There is a good bit of culture for a mid-sized city (Latin Festival was fun, Gay Pride Festival drew several thousand, one of the biggest annual St. Patrick's Day festivals in the nation, SEC college football, great nightlife in Five Points, many unique, "non-chain" restaurants in the Vista area, tubing on Congaree River., top-notch alternative weekly newspaper, etc.)
I have found the poplulation here diverse and open-minded, and not nearly as predominantly conservative as one might expect. Whether you are conservative or liberal, white or black or hispanic, gay or straight, I think you will find a place in Columbia for you.
And, the crime is not nearly as bad as some have said. Most of the crime occurs in certain neighborhoods of town that you have no reason to ever go to. I regularly walk alone, at night, in the two main
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Climate - 6/27/2008
As the old saying goes, In Columbia the only thing separating you from Hell's heat is your screen
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Wonderful Quality of Life - 5/24/2008
After traveling extensively for the past several years, I have recently decided to move back to Columbia, primarily for its overall quality of life. For me, it is the perfect size city: not too big, yet not too small (a common saying is that Columbia is "small enough where you always know someone, but big enough where you never know everyone!")
In terms of outdoors/nature activity, Lake Murray is a wonderful resource for fishing and boating, located just outside of the city (20 minute drive from downtown). Also, Lake Carolina, in the Northeast, is rapidly attracting new residents. The Three Rivers Greenway, located in downtown Columbia, offers 6-8 miles of walking/biking along the shores of the Congaree River. Columbia is two hours from some of the best beaches in America, which makes for great weekend getaways (living in Columbia, you don't need to take a week-long vacation to go to the beach, you can make a weekend trip, or even a day trip.) Also, Columbia is a
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Columbia Area Information Available for Anyone In - 3/16/2008
I have read the online reviews of Columbia and the surrounding areas, and I must say, some of the reviews are a little out-of-line. Columbia doesn't have slum neighborhoods everywhere you look, and there aren't shootings in every neighborhood. It may be that you need an experienced guide to show you the rest of our great city. One of the greatest features Columbia has to offer is its small-town appeal. We don't have the major sky-scrapers of other cities, nor do we have the population you might expect. Traffic is bad in a couple of areas, but knowing when, and alternate routes can make commuting a breeze. Look me up if you're ever in need of an insider's view of the greater Columbia
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Columbia South Carolina - 1/12/2008
I have come to realize that Columbia IS the best kept secret of the "South".
This comment comes from a former Ohio "Buckeye" who migrated from the North. The "locals" could not be more welcoming nor kind. The cost of living is managable yet growth is evident by some 30% increase in population of the general standard statical metropolitian area since 2000. The city is not unlike other state capitals which has as its center one of the major universities of the United States. The city has depended upon the University of South Carolina to provide many of the cultural events for the area. The city is attempting to bring in plays/musicals/ballets with major talents but finds itself competing with the Charlotte-Charleston communities for such talents. Columbia lies in a geographic area between the major cities yet no more that 1 1/2 hour drive to Charlotte and Charleston, and about 3 hours to Atlanta. One finds upon entering the city area that the road system is well established
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depress - 12/29/2007
What is their really to do here. The main things here are the schools and churches. It's nothing positive for these kids to do here so they try to create excitement although very destructive. This is a place more for retirees. If i make this my permanent home trust and believe i will be doing alot of
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Relocating - 10/22/2007
I was reading the reviews of Columbia, SC and the many inquiries about relocation to the area. Recently, I was in the area for an interview and deciding if it is a right fit for me. Before visiting, I did research crime rates for the area and the statistics are overwhelmingly high. While there, I was disappointed in the city. Most of the area appears to be slums (numerous strip malls having several empty buildings--not because there new buildings)and when a good area appears it is not long before entering a very bad section again. It is unfortunate because Columbia has such beautiful historical homes and buildings downtown. What I did learn while there is that the two better areas to live are Lexington and Northeast Columbia. The Harbison area is where the shopping areas are located. It is very, very congested in this area and the interstate backs up after 7 A.M. if you are headed anywhere further in to Columbia expect traffic. Those are my personal observations, hope it
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Columbia SC - 9/14/2007
The crime in Columbia is very high, making it the reason #1 for our
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