City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Columbia, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Columbia - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

105,871
Residents
$129,173
Median income
$480,300
Median home
$1,857
Median rent (state)

Columbia - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Columbia lands in the 90th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

90th
percentile, household income
84th
percentile, home value
78th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Columbia, MD

105,871 people live in Columbia, Maryland - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Columbia households earn a median of $129,173 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Typical homes in Columbia are valued around $480,300, and the median resident age is 39.1 years. 63.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 66.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 23 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Maryland scores 105.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,857 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Maryland run around $255, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 22.1 minutes, with 66.2% driving alone and 22.3% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 72.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

105,871 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$129,173 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Columbia compare to other US cities?

Columbia measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 84% pricier than other cities
Median rent 78% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Columbia's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Maryland, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

90thIncome percentile

90th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Columbia's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$480,300 16th percentile more affordable than 16% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Columbia $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Columbia, MD Columbia, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Columbia, MD median $129,173/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Columbia, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Columbia, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 63.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
105,871
Median Income
$129,173
Median Home Value
$480,300
Median Age
39.1
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
66.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
63.5%

Schools

Total Schools
23
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.1 minutes
Drive Alone
66.2%
Carpool
5.5%
Public Transit
2.9%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
22.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 56,550 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Columbia sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,857/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Germantown
90,521 people
Waldorf
82,541 people
Silver Spring
82,129 people
Frederick
80,617 people
Ellicott
73,737 people
Glen Burnie
72,772 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's 105,871 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Inglewood, CA
105,575 people
Jurupa Valley, CA
106,244 people
Boulder, CO
106,274 people
Spokane Valley, WA
105,460 people
Nampa, ID
106,289 people
Davie, FL
106,412 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia's $129,173 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Vestavia Hills, AL
$129,171 median income
Mingoville, PA
$129,167 median income
Meadow Glade, WA
$129,167 median income
Tysons, VA
$129,189 median income
Norene, TN
$129,138 median income
Allen, TX
$129,130 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Columbia, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 46.0% 29.0% 11.8% 9.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.4% White 46.0% Black or African American 29.0% Asian 11.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 9.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Columbia compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Columbia (this city) 105,871 $129,173
Germantown 90,521 $112,149
Waldorf 82,541 $115,453
Silver Spring 82,129 $98,880
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia, MD?

What is the population of Columbia, MD? +

The population of Columbia, MD stands at 105,871 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbia, MD? +

The median household income in Columbia is $129,173 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Columbia; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Columbia, MD? +

The median home value in Columbia is $480,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.