Columbia

Howard County, Maryland

Population 336K |Median income $149,763 |1 hospital

Population

336,328

Howard County

Median Income

$149,763

+120% vs avg

Median Home Value

$597,900

+163% vs avg

Median Age

39.8

years

10-Year Trends 2013–2024

20132024

Population

336K+14%

Median Income

$149,763+36%

Median Home Value

$597,900+40%

Poverty Rate

5.2%+13%

Unemployment

3.4%-33%

Economics

Median Rent

$2,099/mo

Poverty Rate

5.2% -63% vs avg

Unemployment 3.4%

Bachelor's Degree+ 64.5%

Work From Home 26%

Public Transit 1.5%

Population

White 46.8%

African American 20%

Asian 19.3%

Two or More Ethnicities 5.2%

Health Profile 15 measures

Health Indicators

Short Sleep Duration

36.9%

High Blood Pressure

34.5%

Obesity

30%

Physical Inactivity

16.4%

Binge Drinking

13.4%

Frequent Mental Distress

12.4%

Diabetes

10.4%

Frequent Physical Distress

9.5%

Current Asthma

9.1%

Current Smoking

7.4%

Preventive Care

Dental Visit 72.2%

Annual Checkup 80.8%

Other Measures

Lack of Health Insurance

5.7%

Coronary Heart Disease

4.8%

Stroke

2.6%

Hospitals 1 total

Rating Distribution

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

★★

★

Average Rating

3/5

Total Hospitals

With ER

JOHNS HOPKINS HOWARD COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

COLUMBIA · Acute Care Hospitals · ER

★★★☆☆

Alerts & News — Columbia Area 6

Weather Alerts high

Coastal Flood Warning Issued for Anne Arundel County Shoreline Through Monday Night

NOAA · 12h ago

Weather Alerts

Yellow Snowfall Warning Issued for Chilcotin Region

ECCC · 1d ago

Weather Alerts high

Severe Rainfall Warning Issued for Northeast Metro Vancouver as Atmospheric River Persists

ECCC · 2d ago

Weather Alerts high

Rainfall Warning Issued for Fraser Valley as Atmospheric River Brings Heavy Precipitation

ECCC · 2d ago

Weather Alerts high

High Wind Warning Issued for Western Maryland and West Virginia Through Early Saturday

NOAA · Mar 28, 2026

Weather Alerts

Snowfall Warning Issued for Prince George and Yellowhead Regions of British Columbia

ECCC · Mar 27, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions 6

What is the population of Columbia, MD? ▼

Columbia, MD has a population of 336,328 people, located in Howard County, Maryland.

What is the median household income in Columbia? ▼

The median household income in Columbia, MD is $149,763 per year. The poverty rate is 5.2%.

What is the median home value in Columbia? ▼

The median home value in Columbia, MD is $597,900. Median rent is $2,099/month.

What are the top health concerns in Columbia? ▼

The top health indicators in Columbia include Short Sleep Duration (36.9%), High Blood Pressure (34.5%), Obesity (30%). Data from CDC PLACES.

How many hospitals are in Columbia? ▼

Columbia has 1 hospital with an average rating of 3/5 stars. 1 have emergency departments.

What is the median age in Columbia? ▼

The median age in Columbia, MD is 39.8 years. 64.5% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Safety Context

Columbia, MD is located in Howard County, Maryland. With a population of 336K and a median household income of $149,763, the community faces health challenges including short sleep duration and high blood pressure. Residents have access to 1 hospital with an average rating of 3/5 stars. Safety alerts for the Columbia area are monitored from federal and state agencies including FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC.

Safety Guides

How Product Recalls Work

CPSC, FDA & NHTSA recall process explained

Understanding Weather Alerts

Watch vs warning vs advisory explained

Earthquake Magnitude Explained

What the numbers mean & when to act

All safety guides →

Explore More Data

Schools in Maryland

School ratings, test scores & enrollment → PlainSchools

Crime Rates in Maryland

FBI UCR crime statistics by city → PlainCrime

Rental Data in Maryland

HUD fair market rents & vacancy rates → PlainRent

Cost of Living in Maryland

BEA price parities & Census economics → PlainCost

ZIP Code Data in Maryland

Demographics & economics by ZIP code → PlainZIP

Nearby Cities 8

Ellicott City, MD 66K Ilchester, MD 23K Catonsville, MD 42K West Elkridge, MD 29K Hanover, MD 38K Elkridge, MD 16K Scaggsville, MD 24K Arbutus, MD 20K

All cities in Maryland → Browse all cities

Data Sources

All data on this page comes from official U.S. government sources. Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-year estimates). Health data from the CDC PLACES program (2023). Hospital ratings from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Data is county-level (Howard County) as the smallest consistent geographic unit across all sources.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI UCR, CDC PLACES, and NCES. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.