Signals
North Laurel
Columbia
Climate
73 · Top 36%
vs73 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 3%
vs95 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 35%
vs90 · Top 32%
Schools
76 · Top 18%
vs77 · Top 17%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs98 · Top 20%
Economic stability
82 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | North Laurel | Columbia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,563 | 104,338 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $122,949 | $131,490 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $53,905 | $64,255 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,944/sq mi | 3,267/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $450,100 | $497,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,031 | $2,042 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.3% | 64.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 63.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 7.5% | 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 | 35.5 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 27 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.57 | 13.32 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.5% | 23.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 32.7% | 31.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 31.5% | 34.1% | 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
North Laurel
86
Your Score
—
Area Score
Columbia
84
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: North Laurel, MD · Columbia, MD · How this is calculated: methodology