CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC
Assisted living facilities for the elderly in the Columbia, SC metro area: 33 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 30-person team.
- Establishments
- 33CBP 2023
- Employees
- 998mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.8U.S. 6.1
- Rank
- 99th of 614areas by count
Assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 33 establishments classified as Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (NAICS 623312) in the Columbia, SC metro area. Together they reported 998 mid-March employees and $26.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 99th of the 614 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 3.8 assisted living facilities for the elderly per 100,000 people, 38.2% below the national rate of 6.1. Establishments average 30.2 employees, 24.3% above the U.S. average of 24.3. Payroll per employee comes to $26,896, 22.9% below the national $34,874.
| Measure | Columbia, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 33 | 195 | 20,884 |
| Mid-March employees | 998 | 5,910 | 508,230 |
| Annual payroll | $26,842,000 | $170,342,000 | $17,723,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 30.2 | 30.3 | 24.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $26,896 | $28,823 | $34,874 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.8 | 3.6 | 6.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC
Of the assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC that had employees in March 2023, 22.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 33.3%). 38.7% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 7 | 22.6% | 33.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 16.1% | 14.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 16.1% | 14.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 11 | 35.5% | 22.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 9.7% | 15.5% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC
Families researching assisted living usually start with a phone call, and those calls come at all hours from adult children juggling work. Existing residents' families also call regularly for updates.
A few of the calls that come in to assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC:
- An adult child calls to ask about availability and pricing for a parent.
- A vendor calls to confirm a delivery.
- A family member calls to schedule a tour.
After-hours calls
Evening inquiry calls from families are common, so capturing them and calling back promptly matters.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs an assisted living community in Columbia, SC
The average assisted living community in Columbia, SC has 30.2 employees, so a 30-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $748.50 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $900.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 30 people cost $599.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,612. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $599.00 | $7,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $748.50 | $8,982.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $810.00 | $9,720.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $900.00 | $10,800.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Columbia, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 803 has the most, with 324 of 372 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your residents and families recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 324 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 839 | 43 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 864 | 3 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 1 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 1 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What assisted living facilities for the elderly in Columbia, SC get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Columbia, SC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many assisted living facilities for the elderly are there in Columbia, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 33 assisted living facilities for the elderly in the Columbia, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 998 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 30-person assisted living community?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 30 users cost $900.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $748.50 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $599.00.
What area code should an assisted living community in Columbia, SC use?
Area code 803 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 839 and 864. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an assisted living community?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.