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Howard County, MD
10 cities and towns and 20 ZIP codes in Howard County, Maryland.
Population
336,328
Land area
251sq mi
People per sq mi
1,340
ZIP codes
20
Cities and towns in Howard County
Howard County at a glance
- Howard County is about 2.1 times as dense as Maryland as a whole.
- It is the 6th most populous of 24 counties in Maryland.
- Households here earn a median of $149,763 a year, 44% more than the Maryland figure of $103,678.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $597,900 (42% above Maryland) and median rent is $2,099 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Columbia (104,338), Ellicott City (75,257) and Ilchester (28,364).
Local data for Howard County, MD
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes7
- Schools113
- Colleges3
- Libraries6
- Banks54
- Post Offices21
- Parks103
- Grocery Stores97
- Restaurants853
- Affordable Housing24
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers4
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment26
- Private Schools35
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools3
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places19
Housing and community stats
Howard County, MD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$149,763
Poverty rate
5.2%
Median home value
$597,900
Prices +2.0% in a year
Median rent
$2,099/mo
Homeownership
71.5%
Bachelor's or higher
64.5%
Median age
39.8
Average commute
28.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (39,942), Irish Americans (34,174), Indian Americans (22,305).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
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
$1.3B
11,694 loans, 124,385 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$3M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Howard County, MD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone64.9%
- Carpooled5.4%
- Public transit1.5%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home26.0%
Average one-way commute: 28.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Howard County, MD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
911
Most often 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 zone19 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Howard County, MD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
30.0%
U.S. 33.3% -3.3 pts
Diabetes
10.4%
U.S. 12.1% -1.7 pts
Smoking
7.4%
U.S. 12.8% -5.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.7%
U.S. 11.1% -5.4 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Howard County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Howard County, MD?
- Columbia is the largest city or town in Howard County, with about 104,338 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Howard County?
- Howard County includes 20 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 20701, 20723, 20759, 20763, 20777.
- What is the population of Howard County, MD?
- About 336,328 people live in Howard County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Howard County?
- Howard County borders Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Carroll County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023