City

Columbia, MD

3 ZIP codes  ·  Howard County  ·  Maryland

👥101,074Population
💰$125,643Median HH Income▲ 65% above avg
🎂38.9Median Age
🏠$488,608Median Home Value▲ 75% above avg
🎓68.9%College Grads▲ 78% above avg
📊4.6%Unemployment≈ Avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 48.0% Female 52.0% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 43.9%Hispanic: 10%Black: 29.3%Asian: 10.1%Other: 6.1%Race
White43.9%
Hispanic10.0%
Black29.3%
Asian10.1%
Other6.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
5%
5–17
15%
18–24
9%
25–44
29%
45–64
25%
65+
7%

Key Indicators

Median Age38.9 yrs
Avg HH Size2.52
Below Poverty7.8% ▼ 22% below avg
College Grads68.9% ▲ 78% above avg
Unemployment4.6% ≈ Avg
No HS Diploma1,002 (1.5%)
HS Graduate8,191 (12.5%)
Some College4,088 (6.2%)
Associates7,094 (10.8%)
Bachelors4,722 (7.2%)
Graduate Degree40,504 (61.7%)

Education

No HS: 1.5%HS Grad: 12.5%Some College: 6.2%Associates: 10.8%Bachelors: 7.2%Graduate: 61.7%Edu
No HS1.5%
HS Grad12.5%
Some College6.2%
Associates10.8%
Bachelors7.2%
Graduate61.7%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 64.6%Renter: 35.4%Tenure
Owner64.6%
Renter35.4%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
1%
$50k–$100k
0%
$100k–$150k
1%
$150k–$200k
2%
$200k–$300k
9%
$300k–$500k
42%
Over $500k
44%

Financials

Median HH Income$125,643 ▲ 65% above avg
Median Home Value$488,608 ▲ 75% above avg
Home/Income Ratio3.9x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$1,964/mo
Total Housing Units41,963
Vacant Units2,104

Income Distribution

Under $25k
9%
$25k–$50k
6%
$50k–$75k
10%
$75k–$100k
11%
$100k–$150k
23%
$150k–$200k
16%
Over $200k
25%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
71%
Public Transit
3%
Walked
2%
Work From Home
24%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
22%
15–30 min
36%
30–45 min
24%
Over 45 min
19%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
0%
1940s–1950s
5%
1960s–1970s
33%
1980s–1990s
10%
2000+
52%
About Columbia, MD

Columbia is a city in Maryland, located in Howard County. The city spans 3 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 101,074 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 38.93 years.

Economically, Columbia is a upper-middle-income community. The median household income of $125,642 is significantly above the national average. Approximately 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, near the national average.

The real estate market in Columbia is a premium housing market. Median home values stand at $488,608, which is significantly above the national average. Renters typically pay around $1,963 per month. Homeownership is high at 64.6%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Columbia is highly educated. 68.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — significantly above the national average. The community is racially diverse, with White as the largest group at 43.9%.

Columbia, MD offers residents above-average earning potential within Maryland. Spread across 3 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Columbia
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
21044 44,775 $132,924 $541,100 $2,096 4.2% 72.2% 61.3%
21045 40,866 $117,323 $438,500 $1,768 5.6% 64.8% 69.0%
21046 15,433 $126,549 $469,000 $2,099 3.2% 70.0% 62.7%