The Town FilesColumbia, Maryland
Community in Howard County · population 104,681 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $497,400
- Household income
- $131,490
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.4
Columbia is a community of 104,681 people in Howard County, Maryland. The median home is worth $497,400, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Maryland towns, more upscale than 85% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 77% of Maryland towns.
How Columbia ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbia is worth $497,400, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $131,490, which is more affordable than 52% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,042 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbia | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $497,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,042 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Columbia
| People | Columbia | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.8% | — |
| Work from home | 24.8% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in Columbia
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 63 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 8, 1990.
Severe weather in Howard County since 1996
Howard County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| July 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4376: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 16, 2016 | Flood | DR-4279: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Howard County
Howard County had 173,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,951 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Columbia
23 public schools with 15,676 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atholton High | 9-12 | 1,498 | 16.1 |
| Long Reach High | 9-12 | 1,448 | 12.7 |
| Oakland Mills High | 9-12 | 1,422 | 13.2 |
| Wilde Lake High | 9-12 | 1,270 | 13.1 |
| Hammond High | 9-12 | 1,167 | 13.7 |
| Phelps Luck Elementary | PK-5 | 704 | 11.5 |
| Waterloo Elementary | PK-5 | 626 | 12.3 |
| Lake Elkhorn Middle | 6-8 | 622 | 13.5 |
| Wilde Lake Middle | 6-8 | 618 | 12.1 |
| Swansfield Elementary | PK-5 | 602 | 11.6 |
| Atholton Elementary | PK-5 | 520 | 14.9 |
| Clemens Crossing Elementary | K-5 | 506 | 14.1 |
Towns near Columbia
- Savage, MD4.3 mi · 7,542 people · home $424,300
- Fulton, MD4.4 mi · 5,916 people · home $913,100
- Scaggsville, MD4.4 mi · 9,217 people · home $668,500
- North Laurel, MD5.0 mi · 25,379 people · home $450,100
- Ilchester, MD5.3 mi · 26,824 people · home $532,400
- Ellicott City, MD5.4 mi · 75,947 people · home $661,700
- Jessup, MD5.7 mi · 10,535 people · home $462,000
- West Laurel, MD6.2 mi · 4,428 people · home $541,000
Columbia questions
Is Columbia, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 57% of Maryland towns and quieter than 21%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $497,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,490, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $2,042 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbia?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Columbia get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)