CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Howard County

Maryland · 287,085 residents · 250.95 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Baltimore metro area
Compare
The short version

Howard County is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $103,273. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $456,200. Poverty is rare here, at 4.2% of residents. Households here earn about 46% more than the Maryland median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 37.2
More educated
58% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
287,085
+16%since 2000
from 247,842 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,144 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 988 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
38.4
+8%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
172K217K262K307K351K1990201020202024Howard County
2024336K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$103,273
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,167 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,294
+40%since 2000
from $32,402 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
64.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
4.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.390
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information8.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 7%
Retail trade5.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 2.4%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$456,200
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $198,600 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,346
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $879 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
61.3%
−12.6 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
26.3% rent
Vacancy rate
4.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
27.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.4
+65%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score52.2%(129,321)
2010
White, non-Hispanic59.2%(169,972)
Black17.1%(49,150)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(16,729)
Asian14.3%(41,101)
Other3.3%(9,514)
Diversity Score74.2%(212,949)
Diversity Score
74
+42%since 2000
from 52 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
58.3%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
94.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 93.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
27.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.3 min
+37%since 2000
from 22.1 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
3.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
3.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
13.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
59.3%
−18.1 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
17.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.5%
−38.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+28%
Home value$640,300+40%
Population1,074,582+217%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore
Income$62,177−40%
Home value$229,600−50%
Population569,997+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore County
Income$91,768−11%
Home value$349,300−23%
Population847,650+150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$118,211+14%
Home value$434,000−5%
Population176,677−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard County, Maryland?

Howard County, Maryland has about 287,085 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Howard County, Maryland earns about $103,273 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 $456,200, and the typical rent is about $1,346 a month.

How educated are people in Howard County, Maryland?

About 58.3% 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 4.2% 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 99,757 residents, a change of about 53 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 →