Signals
Columbia
Essex
Climate
73 · Top 36%
vs71 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 3%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs78 · Bottom 45%
Schools
77 · Top 17%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbia | Essex | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,338 | 40,580 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $67,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $64,255 | $35,849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,267/sq mi | 4,382/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $497,400 | $258,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,042 | $1,319 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.0" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 31.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 41.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.32 | 15.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 6.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 31.6% | 15.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 64.0% | 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.
Full profiles: Columbia, MD · Essex, MD · How this is calculated: methodology