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MD area data

Columbia, MD

Aggregated across 3 ZIP codes in Columbia.

Population: 99,756 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Columbia, MD is $514,400 — up 0.4% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $482,417 after a median 24 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,152/month. 23 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with lightning, strong wind, winter weather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$514,400

Typical home value

+0.4%

1-year change

24

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$514,400
1-year appreciation
+0.4%
3-year appreciation
+5.1%
5-year appreciation
+16.6%
10-year appreciation
+46.1%
Peak value since 2000 (Apr 2026)
$515,895
House Price Index (state)
376.2 (+0.9% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$482,417
Median list price
$476,200
Median price per sqft
$253
1-year sale-price change
-4.9%
Median days on market
24 days
Homes sold (recent period)
334
For-sale inventory
234
Sale-to-list ratio
101.0%
Active listings
164
1-year forecast
+0.9%
Days to pending
20 days
New listings (monthly)
121

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,152/mo
1-year rent change
+2.7%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,523/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,625/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,006/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,509/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,789/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)
105.0 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
19.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.10/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

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
Avg student-teacher ratio
13.0 : 1
Schools include
Atholton High, Bryant Woods Elementary, Harpers Choice Middle, Longfellow Elementary, Running Brook Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
lightning, strong wind, winter weather, drought, heat wave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
lightning: Relatively High · strong wind: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · heat wave: Relatively Moderate · inland flooding: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims (varies by location)
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
60
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)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (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
48.5 in
Annual snowfall
19.6 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)
33
Days with Good air quality
293
Days with Moderate air quality
72
Highest AQI recorded (year)
78

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

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
58
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
33
Nearest airport
Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
Nearest major airport
Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
Hospitals in or near a typical ZIP here
43
Hospitals include
JOHNS HOPKINS HOWARD COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV HOSPITAL, HOWARD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CORP
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.2 / 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 (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,315 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1983
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
154,406
Average weekly wage
$1,747
Top industries (by employment)
Professional Services, Health Care, Wholesale Trade
Annual residential building permits (county)
728

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ColumbiaState medianUS median
Typical home value$514,400$446,567$288,527
Median sale price$482,417$450,000$325,000
Median days on market24 days40 days51 days
Typical rent$2,152/mo$1,998/mo$1,809/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 typical home value in Columbia, MD?
$514,400.
What is the median sale price in Columbia, MD?
$482,417.
How long do homes take to sell in Columbia, MD?
Median days on market: 24 days.
What is typical rent in Columbia, MD?
Typical rent: $2,152/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Columbia, MD?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, strong wind, winter weather, drought, heat wave.
Is Columbia, MD in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property across the city. 60 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
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, 2024-25).
Is Columbia, MD walkable?
Walkability index: 13.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Columbia, MD?
Good. Median AQI: 33. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Columbia, MD?
Regional Price Parity: 105.0 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Columbia

Listing a home in Columbia, MD?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents