Census-designated place · Maryland
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, census-designated place, in Howard County, Maryland. Columbia had 104,338 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,815). GEOID 2419125.
Residents, 2020-2024
104,338
±2,815 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 104,681
Median household income
$131,490
±$5,734 (90% margin)
Maryland: $103,678
Median home value
$497,400
±$10,302 (90% margin)
Maryland: $419,900
Median gross rent
$2,042
±$68 (90% margin)
Maryland: $1,705
Where is Columbia and what county is it in?
Columbia is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Howard County, Maryland. It covers 31.9 square miles of land, 3,278 residents per square mile in 2020.
Columbia is in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Columbia, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Columbia's population at 104,338 (±2,815). The 2020 Census counted 104,681 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Columbia is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 104,338 ±2,815 | 336,328 | no clear change |
| Households | 41,143 ±1,001 | 121,065 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.52 ±0.05 | 2.76 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 43,280 ±882 | 125,286 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbia?
The median resident of Columbia is 39.4 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 42.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 28.0%. 20.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 ±0.7 | 39.8 | +1.0 |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±0.9 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3% ±0.8 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±0.7 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.1% ±1.1 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 42.3% ±1.4 pts | 45.9% | −4.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 28.0% ±1.3 pts | 19.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 11.8% ±1.1 pts | 19.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.9% ±0.9 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.8% ±1.4 pts | 22.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.7% ±1.7 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1% ±0.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 10.5% ±0.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.6% ±0.8 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.6% ±1.0 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 63.6% ±1.8 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 34.9% ±1.8 pts | 34.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.4% ±1.6 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.7% ±0.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Columbia earn?
Half of Columbia's 41,143 households earn less than $131,490 a year (±$5,734), against $149,763 in Howard County and $103,678 in Maryland. In 2015-2019 it was $133,348 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $131,490 ±$5,734 | $149,763 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $159,116 ±$4,747 | $184,243 | – |
| Per capita income | $64,255 ±$2,076 | $67,501 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.5% ±1.3 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.8% ±3.0 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.9% ±1.1 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.5% ±0.6 pts | 98.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.8% ±0.9 pts | 96.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Columbia?
Owners occupy 64.8% of Columbia's occupied homes and renters 35.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $497,400 by its owner (±$10,302). The median renter pays $2,042 a month including utilities, and 35.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $497,400 ±$10,302 | $597,900 | +$31,829 |
| Median gross rent | $2,042 ±$68 | $2,099 | −$77 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.2% ±3.2 pts | 38.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,713 ±$48 | $3,021 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.8% ±1.8 pts | 71.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.2% ±1.8 pts | 28.5% | – |
| Housing units | 43,280 ±882 | 125,286 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.3% ±2.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 39.5% ±1.6 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.4% ±1.1 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.8% ±0.3 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.8% ±1.0 pts | 3.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Columbia work and get to work?
65.5% of Columbia's workers drive alone and 24.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.9% ±1.2 pts | 69.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 65.5% ±1.7 pts | 64.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.2% ±0.9 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.8% ±1.6 pts | 26.0% | +19.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.9 min ±1.0 | 28.5 min | −2.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Columbia?
20 census tracts lie mostly in Columbia, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $86,250 (Tract 6066.06) to $250,000 or more (Tract 6055.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6056.02Howard County | 7,927 | $178,860 |
| Tract 6066.03Howard County | 7,885 | $94,320 |
| Tract 6056.01Howard County | 7,781 | $136,170 |
| Tract 6055.05Howard County | 7,074 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 6067.04Howard County | 6,660 | $112,797 |
| Tract 6067.08Howard County | 6,354 | $109,468 |
| Tract 6068.03Howard County | 5,971 | $126,250 |
| Tract 6067.06Howard County | 5,234 | $144,667 |
| Tract 6066.06Howard County | 5,177 | $86,250 |
| Tract 6054.01Howard County | 4,990 | $104,975 |
| Tract 6055.03Howard County | 4,952 | $107,083 |
| Tract 6066.04Howard County | 4,602 | $130,613 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Columbia) · Census block assignment files
How does Columbia compare with other places in Maryland?
Columbia ranks 100th of 322 places in Maryland with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 2nd | 326 |
| Residents per square mile | 104th | 326 |
| Median household income | 100th | 322 |
| Per capita income | 69th | 326 |
| Median home value | 94th | 323 |
| Median gross rent | 96th | 288 |
| Poverty rate | 136th | 230 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41st | 325 |
| Median age | 175th | 326 |
| Owner-occupied share | 211th | 323 |
| Work from home | 76th | 293 |
| Travel time to work | 242nd | 325 |
Columbia's figures with every place in Maryland (CSV)
Every place in Maryland, sortable · Compare Columbia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Columbia?
4 of the 57 figures for Columbia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.