Signals
Columbia
Ellicott City
Climate
73 · Top 36%
vs73 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 3%
vs95 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs86 · Top 40%
Schools
77 · Top 17%
vs91 · Top 3%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs97 · Top 22%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs76 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbia | Ellicott City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,338 | 75,257 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $156,964 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $64,255 | $67,822 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,267/sq mi | 2,508/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $497,400 | $661,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,042 | $2,061 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 72.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 68.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 3.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.0" | 45.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 30.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.32 | 14.07 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 38.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 31.6% | 48.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 18.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
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Columbia
84
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Area Score
Ellicott City
87
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Columbia, MD · Ellicott City, MD · How this is calculated: methodology