All Countries
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
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$129,173
72% above
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$62,614
60% above
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
14% below
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
4.8%
61% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Columbia vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Columbia’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$129,173
172%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$62,614
160%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$131,728
183%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,672
117%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,672
17% above US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
29 min
3% above US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
22.3%
47% above US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
66.3%
9% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
2.9%
42% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$37,130M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
66.3%
Public Transit
2.9%
Work From Home
22.3%
Other
8.5%
Average commute time
29 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
11,342
Restaurants
703
Healthcare
1,202
Retail
822
Manufacturing
168
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$131,728
83% above US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$8,202
134% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $129,173 |
| Per Capita Income | $62,614 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $131,728 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,672 |
| County GDP | $37,130M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% |
| Poverty Rate | 4.8% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.413 |
| Cost of Living Index | 105.0 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 29 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 66.3% |
| Public Transit | 2.9% |
| Work From Home | 22.3% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 11,342 |
| Restaurants | 703 |
| Healthcare | 1,202 |
| Retail | 822 |
| Manufacturing | 168 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $131,728 |
| Avg Property Tax | $8,202 |