The Town FilesEllicott City, Maryland
Community in Howard County · population 75,947 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $661,700
- Household income
- $156,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.2
Ellicott City is a community of 75,947 people in Howard County, Maryland. The median home is worth $661,700, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Maryland towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Maryland towns, more of a college town than 73% of Maryland towns.
How Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City is worth $661,700, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $156,964, which is more affordable than 34% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,061 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellicott City | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $661,700 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,061 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $156,964 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Ellicott City
| People | Ellicott City | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.8% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.7% | — |
| Work from home | 27.2% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 94.3% |
Weather in Ellicott City
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellicott City since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 24, 2001 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 18, 1970.
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 Ellicott City itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Ellicott City
22 public schools with 16,389 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard High | 9-12 | 1,529 | 15.3 |
| Mount Hebron High | 9-12 | 1,518 | 14.9 |
| Centennial High | 9-12 | 1,364 | 16.0 |
| Veterans Elementary | PK-5 | 897 | 13.6 |
| Waverly Elementary | PK-5 | 868 | 14.5 |
| Bellows Spring Elementary | PK-5 | 825 | 12.1 |
| Burleigh Manor Middle | 6-8 | 776 | 15.5 |
| Northfield Elementary | K-5 | 749 | 15.6 |
| Centennial Lane Elementary | PK-5 | 742 | 14.8 |
| Ellicott Mills Middle | 6-8 | 721 | 14.1 |
| Hollifield Station Elementary | K-5 | 721 | 14.1 |
| Bonnie Branch Middle | 6-8 | 710 | 14.5 |
Towns near Ellicott City
- Catonsville, MD5.0 mi · 44,701 people · home $416,900
- Woodlawn, MD5.0 mi · 39,986 people · home $294,200
- Columbia, MD5.4 mi · 104,681 people · home $497,400
- Ilchester, MD5.7 mi · 26,824 people · home $532,400
- Milford Mill, MD6.0 mi · 30,622 people · home $273,600
- Randallstown, MD6.8 mi · 33,655 people · home $327,200
- Elkridge, MD7.5 mi · 25,171 people · home $454,200
- Lochearn, MD7.5 mi · 25,511 people · home $286,000
Ellicott City questions
Is Ellicott City, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellicott City scores better for retirees than 70% of Maryland towns and quieter than 31%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Ellicott City?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellicott City is valued at $661,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,964, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,061 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellicott City?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Ellicott City get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellicott City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)