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CITY

Columbia

Maryland · 104,338 residents · 31.934 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $131,490. Population has grown 18% since 2000. 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $497,400. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 27% more than the Maryland median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
64% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
104,338
+18%since 2000
from 88,254 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
3,267 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 2,764 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.4
+11%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
73K82K91K100K110K1990201020202024Columbia
2024104K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$131,490
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,524 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$64,255
+96%since 2000
from $32,833 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
75.0%
+14.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.405
+3%since 2010
from 0.392 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information6.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$497,400
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $172,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,042
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $922 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
35.2% rent
Vacancy rate
4.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+57%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.4%(56,794)
Black21.2%(18,721)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(3,636)
Asian7.3%(6,422)
Other0%
Diversity Score63%(55,624)
2024
White, non-Hispanic42.3%(44,173)
Black28%(29,259)
Hispanic / Latino10.1%(10,536)
Asian11.8%(12,348)
Other7.7%(8,022)
Diversity Score89%(92,862)
Diversity Score
89
+41%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
63.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 59.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 94.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
34.9%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.9 min
+25%since 2000
from 22.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.5%
−13.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
24.8%
+19.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.9%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 74.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
65.3%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
20.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 7.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.6%
−87.7 ptssince 2013
from 92.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2017
from 92.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
74.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 76.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 7.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Columbia

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Pop 104,812
Carmel
Pop 105,634
Roswell
Pop 91,505
Mansfield
Pop 84,444
Places similar to Columbia
Head to head

Compare Columbia to nearby cities

COLUMBIA VS
Savage
Income$116,895−11%
Home value$424,300−15%
Population8,239−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Scaggsville
Income$207,220+58%
Home value$668,500+34%
Population10,564−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
North Laurel
Income$122,949−6%
Home value$450,100−10%
Population25,563−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA VS
Ilchester
Income$152,103+16%
Home value$532,400+7%
Population28,364−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia, Maryland?

Columbia, Maryland has about 104,338 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia, Maryland?

The typical household in Columbia, Maryland earns about $131,490 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia, Maryland expensive?

In Columbia, Maryland, the median home is worth about $497,400, and the typical rent is about $2,042 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia, Maryland?

About 63.6% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia, Maryland hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia, Maryland?

About 7.5% of people in Columbia, Maryland live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia, Maryland grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia, Maryland has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28,455 residents, a change of about 37 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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