Columbia, Maryland
Census designated place in Howard County, Maryland · ZIP 21029, 21044, 21045
- Howard County
- Census data · ACS 2019-2023
- 30 public schools
- 105,871 (2019-2023 estimate)Population
- 41,218Households
- $129,173Median household income
- $480,300Median home value
- 30Public schools
- 4ZIP codes
About Columbia
This page shows only what has been published about Columbia: Census facts with their sources first, then its businesses, jobs, events, people in public roles, housing and questions as they are added. Nothing here is written by the town government.
Town intelligenceOfficial sources, refreshed yearly
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 88,254 |
| 2010 | 99,615 |
| 2020 | 104,681 |
As counted at each census, within the boundaries the area had then; the current estimate is in the glance card.
Sources: Census 2000 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2010 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2020 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171): total population, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Median household income $129,173 · Share of households by income, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table S1901.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year subject table S1901 (household income) 2019–2023, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026.
- Owner occupied
- 26,760 units
- Renter occupied
- 14,458 units
- Vacancy rate
- 4.9%
Occupied housing units by tenure and the share of all units vacant, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table DP04.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026.
| Measure | Columbia | Howard County | Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,871 | 333,916 | 6,170,738 |
| Median household income | $129,173 | $146,982 | $101,652 |
| Median age | 39.1 | 39.4 | 39.3 |
| Median home value | $480,300 | $576,700 | $397,700 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 63.5% | 64.5% | 42.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 20.8% | 22.2% | 16.3% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.9% | 71.7% | 67.5% |
| Mean commute to work | 28.5 minutes | 28.8 minutes | 31.5 minutes |
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 24, retrieved November 14, 2026.
CommunityRules and moderation
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Events in ColumbiaAll events
No upcoming event is listed in Columbia yet. Members and businesses add events from the Events page; each is screened before it shows.
Schools
| School | Type | Grades | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atholton Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Bryant Woods Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Clarksville Elementary | Public | K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Clemens Crossing Elementary | Public | K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Cradlerock Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Guilford Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Jeffers Hill Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Longfellow Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Phelps Luck Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Pointers Run Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Running Brook Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Stevens Forest Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Swansfield Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Talbott Springs Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Thunder Hill Elementary | Public | K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Waterloo Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Clarksville Middle | Public | 6–8 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Harpers Choice Middle | Public | 6–8 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Lake Elkhorn Middle | Public | 6–8 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Oakland Mills Middle | Public | 6–8 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Wilde Lake Middle | Public | 6–8 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Applications and Research Laboratory | Alternative | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Atholton High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Hammond High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Homewood School | Alternative | 6–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Howard High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Long Reach High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Oakland Mills High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| River Hill High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
| Wilde Lake High | Public | 9–12 | Howard County Public Schools |
Open public schools in the NCES directory for 2023–2024, placed by their listed location; private schools are not in the source. Enrollment and ratings are not shown.
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, public school directory 2023–2024, retrieved November 14, 2026; NCES EDGE public school geocodes 2024–2025, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked about ColumbiaPromoted from questions people asked
No question about Columbia has been asked often enough to publish an answer yet. Ask Columbia and the answer, once a person checks it, appears here.
Nearby towns
- SavageCensus designated place
- FultonCensus designated place
- ScaggsvilleCensus designated place
- North LaurelCensus designated place
- IlchesterCensus designated place
- HighlandCensus designated place
- Ellicott CityCensus designated place
- JessupCensus designated place
- West LaurelCensus designated place
- ElkridgeCensus designated place
Other towns in Howard County
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- Ellicott CityCensus designated place
- FultonCensus designated place
- HighlandCensus designated place
- IlchesterCensus designated place
- LisbonCensus designated place
- North LaurelCensus designated place
- SavageCensus designated place
- ScaggsvilleCensus designated place