MD area data
Columbia, MD
Aggregated across 3 ZIP codes in Columbia.
Population: 99,756 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Columbia, MD is $521,046 — up 0.2% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $517,167 after a median 13 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,211/month. 23 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with lightning, strongwind, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 8.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$521,046
Median home value
+0.2%
1-year change
13
Median days on market
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $521,046
- 1-year appreciation
- +0.2%
- 3-year appreciation
- +5.4%
- 5-year appreciation
- +16.9%
- 10-year appreciation
- +45.9%
- All-time peak (2026-04)
- $522,850
- House Price Index (state)
- 367.5 (+0.7% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $517,167
- Median list price
- $500,050
- Median price per sqft
- $246
- 1-year sale-price change
- -1.1%
- Median days on market
- 13 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 59
- For-sale inventory
- 227
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 103.0%
- Active listings
- 27
- 1-year forecast
- -0.2%
- Days to pending
- 17 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 123
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,211/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +2.5%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,150/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,437/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,704/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,216/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,557/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 108.0 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 19.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.10/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 23
- Elementary schools
- 14
- Middle schools
- 4
- High schools
- 5
- Schools include
- Atholton High, Bryant Woods Elementary, Harpers Choice Middle, Longfellow Elementary, Running Brook Elementary
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- lightning, strongWind, winterWeather, drought, heatWave
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · hurricane: Relatively Low
- FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
- includes X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 11% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 62.8%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Fort George G. Meade (9.2 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 68.5°F
- Average high
- 73.5°F
- Average low
- 63.5°F
- Annual precipitation
- 49.6 in
- Annual snowfall
- 10.1 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7b (extreme annual low 5 to 10°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 38
- Days with Good air quality
- 268
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 93
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 3
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 188
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 13.8 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 814
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 155,855
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 134,331
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 174
- Nearest national park
- Baltimore-Washington Parkway (10 mi)
- National parks include
- Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Greenbelt Park, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
- Airports within 30 mi
- 94
- Nearest airport
- Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 21
- Hospitals include
- JOHNS HOPKINS HOWARD COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MD MEDICAL CENTER MIDTOWN CAMPUS
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.3 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.1 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -1,315 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,983
- Housing built before 1970
- 10.7%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 11.4%
- Median annual property tax
- $5,988
- Mean commute to work
- 20 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 90.2%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 151,376
- Average weekly wage
- $1,643
- Top industries (by employment)
- Professional Services, Health Care, Wholesale Trade
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 592
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Columbia | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $521,046 | $452,533 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $517,167 | $450,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 13 days | 40 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $2,211/mo | $2,002/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $5,988 | $3,862 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Columbia, MD?
- $521,046.
- What is the median sale price in Columbia, MD?
- $517,167.
- How long do homes take to sell in Columbia, MD?
- Median days on market: 13 days.
- What is typical rent in Columbia, MD?
- Typical rent: $2,211/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Columbia, MD?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, strongWind, winterWeather, drought, heatWave.
- Is Columbia, MD in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone X; zones vary by location within the city.
- What is the wildfire risk in Columbia, MD?
- Risk to homes is higher than 11% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Columbia, MD?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Columbia, MD?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Columbia, MD?
- 23 schools (14 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Columbia, MD walkable?
- Walkability index: 13.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in Columbia, MD?
- Good. Median AQI: 38. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Columbia, MD?
- Regional Price Parity: 108.0 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP codes in Columbia
Selling a home in Columbia, MD?
REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →