Signals
Columbia
North Laurel
Climate
73 · Top 36%
vs73 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 3%
vs95 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs88 · Top 35%
Schools
77 · Top 17%
vs76 · Top 18%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs98 · Top 20%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs82 · Top 4%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbia | North Laurel | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,338 | 25,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $122,949 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $64,255 | $53,905 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,267/sq mi | 3,944/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $497,400 | $450,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,042 | $2,031 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 62.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 53.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 4.7% | 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 | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 35.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.32 | 13.57 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 23.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 31.6% | 32.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 31.5% | 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
North Laurel
86
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Columbia, MD · North Laurel, MD · How this is calculated: methodology