9 best places to live in the Columbia, Lexington area for 2026, ranking says. Here’s why

Columbia and its surrounding suburbs are among the most populous in South Carolina, and their neighborhoods are well known for being great places to settle down.

Niche, a digital platform that ranks neighborhoods across the country, listed the best places to live in the Columbia area in 2026. They combined public data, proprietary research and hundreds of real resident reviews to create the ranking.

The ranking and review site grades each location based on the following:

• Crime and safety data
• Cost of living
• Working in the area (based on employment rates, job and business growth and cost of living)
• Nearby public schools
• Diversity
• How good the area is for families
• Nightlife
• Outdoor activities
• Commute
• Health and Fitness

Here’s the list of the nine best places to live in the Columbia area, according to Niche’s report.

9 best places to live in the Columbia area

#1. Forest Acres

At the top of this list, Forest Acres received praise for its public schools, housing, nightlife and family-friendly atmosphere.

With a population of over 15,000 people, Forest Acres has a deep suburban feel and plenty of stores and parks to explore.

The suburb fared poorly in the Crime & Safety category, but overall, Niche gave Forest Acres an exceptional score.

#2. Lexington

Lexington has amazing public schools and housing, is great for families and is fairly diverse. The major suburb has good job opportunities, a decent cost of living and plenty of outdoor activities.

It didn’t have the best crime and safety or commute rating. Lexington has a population of over 24,500, and is also very suburban.

#3. Irmo

Similar to Lexington, Irmo ranked highly because of its public schools, housing, family-friendly atmosphere, diversity and nightlife.

The suburb’s crime and safety and commute scores dropped its ranking. Irmo has a population of over 11,800, and is also a sparsely suburban area.

#4. Chapin

Chapin is well known for its public schools, but it has also received praise for its housing, nightlife, diversity, and job opportunities.

While still decent, its health and fitness, commute and its crime and safety scores were not the best. It has a population of around 1,400 people, and is mostly rural.

#5. Cayce

Cayce scored best for its diversity, nightlife and family-friendly atmosphere. The suburb’s cost of living, weather, outdoor activities, housing and job opportunities were above average.

Crime and safety were the suburb’s biggest issues. It has a population of over 13,700 people and has a sparse suburban feel.

#6. Oak Grove

Oak Grove scored best for its housing and family-friendly atmosphere. It also scored fairly well for its public schools, job opportunities, cost of living and diversity.

Oak Grove’s commute and health and fitness scores held the suburb back from ranking higher. It has a population of over 12,200 and is a suburban-rural mix.

#7. West Columbia

West Columbia has great nightlife and diversity, and is also a notable place to raise a family.

The suburb ranked this low because of its public schools and crime and safety scores. It has a population of almost 18,000 is a dense suburban area.

#8. Seven Oaks

Seven Oaks ranked highly for its diversity and family-friendly atmosphere. It has a decent cost of living and housing situation, but the suburb’s public schools and commute were its worst categories.

It has a population of nearly 16,000, and is a dense suburban area.

#9. Columbia

The state’s capital ranked last on this list, but not because of its nightlife, diversity, outdoor activities or commute.

Columbia ranked poorly in the job, housing and crime and safety categories. With a population of nearly 140,000, the city is an urban and suburban community.