Maryland · Census place 19125
Columbia, MD population, income and ZIP codes
Quick answer
The population of the city of Columbia, Maryland (Columbia, MD — Census place “Columbia CDP”) is 105,871 residents, ranking #2 of 536 places in Maryland. Median household income is $129,173, the median home is worth $480,300 and median gross rent runs $1,998 a month. Looking for the Columbia Maryland ZIP code list? 4 ZIP codes serve Columbia, MD: 21029, 21044, 21045, 21046.
- Population
- 105,871Columbia CDP residents
- Median household income
- $129,173Past 12 months, inflation adjusted
- Median home value
- $480,300Owner-occupied units
- Median gross rent
- $1,998Rent plus utilities, monthly
- Median age
- 39.1 yrsAll residents
- Homeownership rate
- 64.9%Owner-occupied households
Columbia ZIP codes (Maryland)
Census ZCTAs whose delivery area overlaps Columbia.
The Columbia MD ZIP code list below covers 4 ZIP codes. Open any one for its population, income, housing and rent profile.
What the numbers mean in Columbia CDP
Housing cost measured against local earnings.
A household earning the Columbia CDP median would spend about 18.6% of gross income on the median rent. The 30% mark is the federal threshold for cost burden, so anything above it signals a stretched rental market. The median home costs 3.7× the median household income; nationally that ratio sits near 4.5×. Poverty affects 7.4% of residents and 64.9% of households own their home.
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimates · rates as published for 2019-2023 ACS 5-year
Columbia CDP, MD in context
How this area compares with national benchmarks.
Columbia CDP is a mid-size city in Maryland, with 105,871 residents counted in the Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates, which places it #2 of 536 ranked by population — larger than 99% of them. The median age here is 39.1 years against 39.1 nationally, a slightly younger profile than the country as a whole. At this size the Census also publishes one-year estimates; the five-year values used here are steadier and let you compare against smaller neighbours on the same basis.
Households in Columbia CDP earn a median of $129,173 a year, 64.5% above the national figure of $78,538 and 18% above the $109,026 median for the 332 Maryland cities we cover. Household income here is measured before tax and pooled across everyone at the address, which is why it reads higher than typical individual earnings in the same area. Poverty reaches 7.4% of residents here, below the 12.4% national rate.
The typical owner-occupied home in Columbia CDP is valued at $480,300, 58.3% above the national figure and 21% above the $397,200 peer median, while median gross rent runs $1,998 a month, 42.1% above the national figure, or roughly $23,976 across a full year. A household on the local median income would put about 18.6% of gross pay toward that rent against the federal 30% cost-burden threshold, so renting here is cheap relative to what people here earn. The home-price-to-income ratio works out to 3.7×, against roughly 3.9× nationally, so buying is easier here than in the average US market. 64.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied versus 65% nationally, so the market leans more heavily on renters. Rent is reported gross — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — which is why it runs above the advertised price on a listing for the same unit.
Every value on this page is published directly by the Census for this area — nothing is modelled or interpolated. Small-area estimates still carry wider margins of error than state or national figures, so check the linked ACS tables before relying on them for lending, appraisal or legal work.
Compare with nearby places
Places of similar size in Maryland.
- Germantown CDP 90,521
- Baltimore city 577,193
- Waldorf CDP 82,541
- Silver Spring CDP 82,129
- Frederick city 80,617
- Ellicott City CDP 73,737
- Glen Burnie CDP 72,772
- Gaithersburg city 69,225
Compare across the region
Major places across the state line.
Keep going
More Maryland coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this area.
- What is the population of Columbia CDP?
- Columbia CDP has 105,871 residents on Census ACS 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates, ranking #2 of 536 in Maryland.
- What is the median household income in Columbia CDP?
- Median household income in Columbia CDP is $129,173 a year, 64.5% above the national figure of $78,538.
- How much does it cost to rent or buy in Columbia CDP?
- Median gross rent is $1,998 a month and the median home value is $480,300, so rent absorbs about 18.6% of median household income.
- Is Columbia CDP affordable compared with the rest of the US?
- Homes cost about 3.7× the local median income here versus roughly 3.9× nationally, so Columbia CDP is more affordable to buy in than the typical US market, and rent takes 18.6% of median income against the 30% cost-burden line.
- How current is this Columbia CDP data?
- All figures come from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2019-2023 ACS 5-year five-year estimates. At this size the Census also publishes one-year estimates; the five-year values used here are steadier and let you compare against smaller neighbours on the same basis.