1st Advantage MortgageHoward County households have a median income of $149,763 and median rent of $2,099 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Maryland license first.
On this page
- Howard County by the numbers
- Income in Howard County compared with Maryland
- Jobs and commutes in Howard County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Howard County
- Howard County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Howard County
- Debt-to-income at Howard County's medians
- People and households in Howard County
- Before borrowing in Howard County
- Licensing and complaints for Howard County
- A Howard County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Howard County by the numbers
With an estimated 336,328 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Howard County ranks 6th of 24 in Maryland for population. It covers 251 square miles of land, or about 1,340 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Columbia is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 104,338 people (31% of the county total).
Income in Howard County compared with Maryland
Half of Howard County households take in less than $149,763 a year and half take in more, 44% above the Maryland median of $103,678. In the state ranking that is 1st of 24.
| Yearly household income | Howard County | Gap to Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 8.8% | -7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 22.9% | -9.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.6% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 34.7% | +14.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 68% of Howard County households make $100,000 or more, and 9% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.2%, 4 points lower than the state's 9.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $149,763 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Howard County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Howard County residents work in education and health care and 22% in professional and administrative services. Professional and administrative services stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 17% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Howard County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 26% work from home. Only 3.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Howard County | Compared with Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 21.8% | +5.2 pts |
| Public administration | 10.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Howard County
Renters in Howard County pay a median of $2,099 a month, 23% above the Maryland figure of $1,705. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. Home values center on $597,900, or 4.0 years of median income. 71% of Howard County households own their home and 29% rent. The median year built is 1989.
| Howard County | Maryland | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,099/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $597,900 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 3% | 8% | n/a |
Howard County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 27 miles). Montgomery County leads the group on income ($132,450), Baltimore city trails ($62,177), and Howard County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into District of Columbia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | - | $149,763 | $2,099/mo | 71% |
| Montgomery County, MD | 17 mi | $132,450 | $2,068/mo | 65% |
| Baltimore city, MD | 17 mi | $62,177 | $1,331/mo | 48% |
| Baltimore County, MD | 21 mi | $91,768 | $1,627/mo | 66% |
| Carroll County, MD | 22 mi | $118,211 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| District of Columbia, DC | 25 mi | $109,870 | $1,954/mo | 42% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 27 mi | $124,911 | $2,071/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Howard County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Howard County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 295,314 people, so roughly 12% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $116,895 in Savage to $250,001 in Highland. Median rent ranges from $2,031 in North Laurel to $3,501 in Scaggsville. One of them, Columbia, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | CDP | 104,338 | $131,490 | $2,042 | 5 mi |
| Ellicott City | CDP | 75,257 | $156,964 | $2,061 | 5 mi |
| Ilchester | CDP | 28,364 | $152,103 | $2,115 | 9 mi |
| Elkridge | CDP | 26,283 | $139,913 | $2,295 | 11 mi |
| North Laurel | CDP | 25,563 | $122,949 | $2,031 | 9 mi |
| Scaggsville | CDP | 10,564 | $207,220 | $3,501 | 8 mi |
| Jessup | CDP | 9,931 | $128,851 | $2,187 | 11 mi |
| Savage | CDP | 8,239 | $116,895 | $2,053 | 9 mi |
| Fulton | CDP | 5,677 | $222,039 | $3,074 | 7 mi |
| Highland | CDP | 972 | $250,001 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lisbon | CDP | 126 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Howard County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Howard County's medians:
- Start: $12,480 gross per month ($149,763 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $2,099, takes 17% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $2,893 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Howard County's.
People and households in Howard County
64% of Howard County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Howard County | Maryland statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 64.5% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 26.0% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Before borrowing in Howard County
What the Howard County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Howard County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 68% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Howard County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Licensing and complaints for Howard County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Howard County borrowers answers to the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Maryland: Maryland personal loans.
A Howard County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Howard County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Howard County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Maryland.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Howard County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Howard County earn?
The median is $149,763; 68% earn $100,000 or more and 9% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Howard County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,099 against $1,705 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Howard County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Howard County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Columbia?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Howard County, such as Ellicott City, Ilchester, Elkridge.
Does living in Howard County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Howard County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.