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Columbia, MD
Full City Profile · Maryland · Howard County County
3.8
/5.0
B+
Good
105,871
Population
3,316/sq mi density
$129,173
Median Income
$62,614 per capita
$480,300
Home Value
$505,044 Zillow
$1,998
Median Rent
27.8% income on rent
57°F
Avg Temperature
294 sunny days/yr
593
Violent Crime/100K
3,522 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$129,173 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$480,300 home value, $1,998/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
593 violent crimes/100K (56% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
63.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Columbia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 294 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 43.5 inches. The area receives 1.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Temperature
42°F Jan (5°C)
77°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 57.1°F |
| 6% above US avg | |
| January Average | 42°F (5°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 294 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Area | 32.2 sq mi (83.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,316/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.2011°N, 76.8591°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Howard County County |
| Nearest Airport | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 20.7 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.26 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 8.1 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 72.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 92.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F (5°C) | 3.4 in | |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 2.9 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 3.9 in | |
| April | 53°F (11°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 62°F (17°C) | 4.6 in | Wettest |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 4.0 in | Warmest |
| August | 74°F (23°C) | 3.8 in | |
| September | 67°F (20°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 56°F (13°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 46°F (8°C) | 3.7 in | |
| December | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 in |
Columbia has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 34°F in February to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.6") and February the driest (2.9").