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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Howard County

Maryland · 332,317 residents · 250.95 sq mi
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The short version

Howard County is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $124,042. Population has grown 34% since 2000. 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $464,500. Poverty is rare here, at 5.1% of residents. Households here earn about 42% more than the Maryland median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.8
More educated
63% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
332,317
+34%since 2000
from 247,842 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,324 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 988 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.0
+10%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
172K217K262K307K351K1990201020202024Howard County
2024336K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$124,042
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,167 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$55,873
+72%since 2000
from $32,402 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
72.9%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
5.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information7.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$464,500
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $198,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,731
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $879 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
71.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
28.9% rent
Afford Score
3.7
+40%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic46.7%(155,236)
Black19.3%(64,018)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(27,362)
Asian19.9%(66,073)
Other5.1%(16,943)
Diversity Score86.3%(286,952)
Segregation Score22.2%(73,717)
Diversity Score
86
+65%since 2000
from 52 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
22
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
62.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 93.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
32.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.1 min
+40%since 2000
from 22.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
71.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 73.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
63.9%
−13.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
21.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.7%
−89.1 ptssince 2013
from 92.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+7%
Home value$640,300+38%
Population1,074,582+217%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore
Income$62,177−50%
Home value$229,600−51%
Population569,997+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Baltimore County
Income$91,768−26%
Home value$349,300−25%
Population847,650+150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$118,211−5%
Home value$434,000−7%
Population176,677−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard County, Maryland?

Howard County, Maryland has about 332,317 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Howard County, Maryland earns about $124,042 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 $464,500, and the typical rent is about $1,731 a month.

How educated are people in Howard County, Maryland?

About 62.7% 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 5.1% 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 144,989 residents, a change of about 77 percent over that period.

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

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