Clear Estimates Research ·
The limits of cost per square foot: what it really costs to build a house in every U.S. ZIP code
- Cost to build the Cape Cod
- $483,400
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $212,800
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,163,100
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 201
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in Columbia: $483,400, against $528,300 in the median market. Lower than in 287 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 7 South Carolina markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in Columbia: $212,800, against $234,000 in the median market. Lower than in 293 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 7 South Carolina markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in Columbia: $1,163,100, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Lower than in 291 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 7 South Carolina markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Columbia: 201, against 220 in the median market. Lower than in 287 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 7 South Carolina markets.
Modeled cost to build a 1,200 sq ft economy ranch, a 2,400 sq ft mid-grade Cape Cod and a 4,000 sq ft premium brick colonial, median across the market's ZIP codes. Land not included.
Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.
