The Babcock
2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201
$1,321 - $1,725
1 Bed
Area Guide
Downtown Columbia Columbia, SC
A charming college town in the heart of Columbia
University
•
College Town
•
Urban
A charming college town, Columbia’s downtown district is home to everything that makes the city so notable. The University of South Carolina sits in Downtown Columbia, offering everything from Greek Village and Founders Park to the Horseshow and Maxcy Gregg Park. This bustling college campus gives the neighborhood a lively energy, and residents appreciate the vibrant nightlife scene and delicious local eats. From Blue Marlin to Thirsty Fellow Pizzeria and Pub, there are plenty of hangouts for all residents. Although Downtown Columbia can be described as a college town, there is also a safe, family-friendly atmosphere in the neighborhood. Apartments, houses, and condos in the area range from affordable to upscale, so there’s something for everyone. From Finlay Park to the South Carolina State Museum, Downtown Columbia is filled with tourist attractions and entertainment options.
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Downtown Columbia is $1,326 for a studio, $1,554 for one bedroom, $2,082 for two bedrooms, and $4,768 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Downtown Columbia has increased by 3.7% in the past year.
-
Studio
-
535 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
-
$1,326/month
Average Rent
-
1 BR
-
625 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
-
$1,554/month
Average Rent
-
2 BR
-
962 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
-
$2,082/month
Average Rent
-
3 BR
-
940 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
-
$4,768/month
Average Rent
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Downtown Columbia - Columbia, SC is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
70
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
50
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Daily Essentials
Downtown Columbia - Columbia, SC offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 10 Minute Walk
Groceries
80
/ 100
Good Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
70
/ 100
Fair Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
50
/ 100
Fair Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
50
/ 100
Local Vibe
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in Downtown Columbia - Columbia, SC from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere at Times
Vibrancy
50
/ 100
Exceptional Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
90
/ 100
Fairly Noisy
Quiet Score
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- South Carolina State Museum
- EdVenture Children's Museum
- Melton Memorial Observatory
- McKissick Museum
- Riverbanks Zoo
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Columbia Metro
Top Apartments in Downtown Columbia
Houses for Rent in Downtown Columbia
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Guides
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.