Signals
Columbia
Severna Park
Climate
73 · Top 36%
vs73 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 3%
vs94 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs91 · Top 30%
Schools
77 · Top 17%
vs79 · Top 15%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs80 · Top 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbia | Severna Park | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,338 | 40,228 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $169,953 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $64,255 | $69,378 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,267/sq mi | 2,433/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $497,400 | $647,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,042 | $1,699 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 90.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 58.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 2.8% | 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 | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 30.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.32 | 15.69 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 23.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 31.6% | 42.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 25.6% | 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
Severna Park
86
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Columbia, MD · Severna Park, MD · How this is calculated: methodology