CensusEasy
COUNTY

Howard County

Maryland · 339,183 residents (2025 est.) · 250.95 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Baltimore metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#5Highest median household incomeof 3,143$149,763#9Most educatedof 3,14464.5%#32Highest median rentof 3,137$2,099#37Most work-from-homeof 3,14426.0%
The short version

Howard County is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $149,763. Population has grown 36% 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 $597,900. Poverty is rare here, at 5.2% of residents. It ranks in the top 1% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
64% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
336,328
+36%since 2000
from 247,842 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,340 / sq mi
+23%since 2009
from 1,093 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.8
+12%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:339,183 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
172K217K262K307K351K1990201020202024Howard County
2024336K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(17,958)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(21,426)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.6%(25,506)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(22,747)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(18,783)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.8%(39,661)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.7%(49,371)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(46,208)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.9%(43,393)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.9%(30,017)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.7%(15,712)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(5,546)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$149,763
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,167 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$67,501
+108%since 2000
from $32,402 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
77.7%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.414
+6%since 2010
from 0.390 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information6.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$597,900
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $198,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,099
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $879 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
28.5% rent
Vacancy rate
3.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.3%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
−11%since 2009
from 4.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Howard County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic72.6%(180,010)
Black14.3%(35,353)
Hispanic / Latino3%(7,490)
Asian7.7%(18,977)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic45.9%(154,383)
Black19.7%(66,160)
Hispanic / Latino8.7%(29,135)
Asian19.2%(64,689)
Other6.5%(21,961)
Diversity Score
88
+30%since 2009
from 68 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−6%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Central American3.1%(10,301)
Mexican1.7%(5,633)
Salvadoran1.6%(5,426)
South American1.3%(4,531)
Puerto Rican1.1%(3,857)
Honduran0.8%(2,832)
Colombian0.4%(1,489)
Guatemalan0.4%(1,186)
Cuban0.3%(1,055)
Peruvian0.3%(1,016)
Dominican0.3%(844)
Spaniard0.2%(712)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.2%(707)
Panamanian0.1%(442)
Argentine0.1%(369)
Costa Rican0.1%(336)
Ecuadorian0.1%(282)
Chilean0.1%(228)
Bolivian0.1%(170)
Uruguayan0%(140)
Asian origin
Asian Indian6.6%(22,305)
Korean4%(13,389)
Chinese3.9%(13,264)
Pakistani1%(3,351)
Vietnamese0.8%(2,593)
Filipino0.7%(2,511)
Burmese0.3%(1,092)
Nepalese0.3%(1,015)
Bangladeshi0.3%(885)
Japanese0.2%(617)
Taiwanese0.1%(380)
Thai0.1%(375)
+ 9 more asian origin groups with data
Kazakh0.1%(362)
Malaysian0.1%(210)
Mongolian0%(61)
Cambodian0%(45)
Hmong0%(37)
Laotian0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(64)
Chamorro0%(15)
Tongan0%(5)
Ancestry
German11.9%(39,942)
Irish10.2%(34,174)
English9.4%(31,609)
Italian5.3%(17,712)
Subsaharan African4.8%(16,228)
Polish3.2%(10,824)
American2.9%(9,806)
Scottish1.7%(5,607)
Nigerian1.6%(5,394)
Russian1.3%(4,504)
West Indian1.3%(4,367)
Arab1.3%(4,206)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
French1.1%(3,828)
Ethiopian0.8%(2,567)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(2,467)
Greek0.7%(2,453)
Norwegian0.7%(2,239)
Jamaican0.7%(2,239)
Swedish0.6%(2,173)
Iranian0.5%(1,831)
Czech0.5%(1,794)
Welsh0.5%(1,628)
Dutch0.4%(1,470)
British0.4%(1,441)
Ukrainian0.4%(1,308)
Lithuanian0.4%(1,237)
Ghanaian0.4%(1,200)
Hungarian0.3%(1,011)
Portuguese0.3%(914)
Slovak0.3%(875)
Guyanese0.3%(844)
Haitian0.2%(829)
Lebanese0.2%(785)
Turkish0.2%(771)
Danish0.2%(742)
Brazilian0.2%(660)
Austrian0.2%(647)
Egyptian0.2%(592)
Israeli0.2%(544)
Swiss0.1%(498)
Palestinian0.1%(434)
Romanian0.1%(433)
Finnish0.1%(413)
Latvian0.1%(353)
Armenian0.1%(325)
Kenyan0.1%(323)
Canadian0.1%(295)
Syrian0.1%(274)
Jordanian0.1%(257)
Belgian0.1%(232)
Cape Verdean0.1%(224)
Moroccan0.1%(195)
Australian0%(162)
Croatian0%(150)
Barbadian0%(147)
Iraqi0%(119)
Serbian0%(86)
Somali0%(86)
Slovene0%(52)
Bulgarian0%(32)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Asian Indian population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
64.5%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 93.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
34.1%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 23.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+29%since 2000
from 22.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
64.9%
−15.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
26.0%
+20.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.4%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 73.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
66.6%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
22.8%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 6.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−88.6 ptssince 2013
from 92.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2017
from 92.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
71.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2016
from 75.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 5.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.1%(43,893)
Married59.5%(78,765)
Widowed1.8%(2,375)
Divorced5.6%(7,445)
Women 15+
Never married28.2%(39,187)
Married54.8%(76,102)
Widowed6.8%(9,482)
Divorced10.2%(14,189)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Howard County

Douglas County
Pop 399,396
Somerset County
Pop 356,486
Forsyth County
Pop 282,805
Marin County
Pop 253,694
Places similar to Howard County
Head to head

Compare Howard County to nearby counties

HOWARD COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$132,450−12%
Home value$640,300+7%
Population1,074,582+217%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore
Income$62,177−58%
Home value$229,600−62%
Population569,997+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore County
Income$91,768−39%
Home value$349,300−42%
Population847,650+150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$118,211−21%
Home value$434,000−27%
Population176,677−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard County, Maryland?

Howard County, Maryland has about 336,328 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Howard County, Maryland?

The typical household in Howard County, Maryland earns about $149,763 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Howard County, Maryland expensive?

In Howard County, Maryland, the median home is worth about $597,900, and the typical rent is about $2,099 a month.

How educated are people in Howard County, Maryland?

About 64.5% of adults age 25 and over in Howard County, Maryland hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Howard County, Maryland?

About 5.2% of people in Howard County, Maryland live below the federal poverty line.

Has Howard County, Maryland grown since 1990?

Yes, Howard County, Maryland has grown since 1990. The population has added about 149,000 residents, a change of about 80 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

59 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 6012.03Census Tract 6021Census Tract 6069.05Census Tract 6026Census Tract 6051.05Census Tract 6056.02Census Tract 6066.03Census Tract 6056.01Census Tract 6030.04Census Tract 6012.04Census Tract 6069.01Census Tract 6055.05Census Tract 6011.04Census Tract 6069.06Census Tract 6067.04Census Tract 6040.01Census Tract 6068.08Census Tract 6023.02Census Tract 6069.07Census Tract 6067.08
20 ZIP codes
ZIP 21043ZIP 21044ZIP 21042ZIP 21045ZIP 21075ZIP 20723ZIP 20794ZIP 21046ZIP 21029ZIP 21797ZIP 20759ZIP 21104ZIP 21738ZIP 20777ZIP 20763ZIP 21036ZIP 21737ZIP 21794ZIP 21723ZIP 20701
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Maryland
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →