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Columbia, MD

Census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland. ZIP codes: 21029, 21044, 21045, 21046.

Population

104,338

Land area

31.9sq mi

People per sq mi

3,267

ZIP codes

4

Columbia and its ZIP codes

Full map

Columbia at a glance

  • Columbia is about 5.1 times as dense as Maryland as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 2nd among 527 cities and towns in Maryland.
  • The median household income is $131,490, 27% above the Maryland median of $103,678.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $497,400 (18% above Maryland) and median rent is $2,042 a month.

Local data for Columbia, MD

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Columbia, MD, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$131,490

Poverty rate

7.5%

Median home value

$497,400

Median rent

$2,042/mo

Homeownership

64.8%

Bachelor's or higher

63.6%

Median age

39.4

Average commute

27.9 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (11,124), Irish Americans (9,866), Italian Americans (5,104).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Howard County. PPP loans are for Columbia.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$90,296

173,088 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$99,767

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$8.7B

FY 2026, $26,272 per person

PPP loans

$558M

4,043 loans, 49,276 jobs reported

Howard County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Columbia, MD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone65.5%
  • Carpooled5.2%
  • Public transit2.0%
  • Walked1.5%
  • Bicycle0.1%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
  • Worked from home24.8%

Average one-way commute: 27.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Columbia, MD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: winter weather

Storm events since 1996

911

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

816

0.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

89° / 26°F

47.5 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Columbia, MD, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.2%

U.S. 33.3% -1.1 pts

Diabetes

10.6%

U.S. 12.1% -1.5 pts

Smoking

7.9%

U.S. 12.8% -4.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

6.3%

U.S. 11.1% -4.8 pts

ZIP codes in Columbia

4 in or overlapping Columbia. Population shown

·

Cities near Columbia

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
SavageCensus-designated place3.7 mi2.7
ScaggsvilleCensus-designated place3.8 mi5
FultonCensus-designated place4 mi3.8
North LaurelCensus-designated place4.4 mi6.5
HighlandCensus-designated place5 mi2.4
IlchesterCensus-designated place5.3 mi10.8
West LaurelCensus-designated place5.6 mi2.3
Ellicott CityCensus-designated place5.9 mi30
JessupCensus-designated place6 mi6
ElkridgeCensus-designated place6.6 mi8.4
LaurelCity6.8 mi4.8
BurtonsvilleCensus-designated place6.8 mi7.8
Maryland CityCensus-designated place7.4 mi7.7
CatonsvilleCensus-designated place7.9 mi14
SpencervilleCensus-designated place8.2 mi1.6
Ashton-Sandy SpringCensus-designated place8.3 mi10.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Columbia, MD in?
Columbia is in Howard County, Maryland.
What ZIP codes are in Columbia, MD?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Columbia include 21029, 21044, 21045, 21046.
What is the population of Columbia, MD?
About 104,338 people live in Columbia, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Columbia?
Nearby places include Savage (3.7 mi), Scaggsville (3.8 mi), Fulton (4 mi), North Laurel (4.4 mi), Highland (5 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023