Columbia, Maryland has an overall cost of living index of 103.2, which is 3.2 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,042 per month, while the typical home is valued around $497,400. Households earn a median of $131,490 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$131,490
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,042
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$497,400
Median Home Value
Census ACS
103.2
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,362
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,511
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,857
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,358
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
103.2
Goods
101.5
Rents / Housing
116.8
Services
110.1
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $151,370 |
| Registered Nurse | $97,130 |
| Elementary Teacher | $72,670 |
| Electrician | $69,850 |
| Accountant | $93,520 |
| Plumber | $68,310 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $232,520 |
| Civil Engineer | $106,560 |
| Operations Manager | $127,880 |
| Market Research Analyst | $78,020 |
| Health Services Manager | $152,310 |
| Truck Driver | $58,560 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $148,640 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
104,338
Latest estimate
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
7
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$2,099
Per month
Avg Home Value
$556,786
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 21029 | — | $3,100 | $882,700 |
| ZIP 21042 | — | $2,197 | $650,900 |
| ZIP 21043 | — | $1,883 | $579,600 |
| ZIP 21044 | — | $1,923 | $514,400 |
| ZIP 21045 | — | $1,602 | $420,400 |
| ZIP 21046 | — | $2,047 | $436,400 |
| ZIP 21075 | — | $1,941 | $413,100 |
January Avg
34°F
July Avg
78°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.7
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
95.4%
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 103.2. The US national average is 100, so Columbia is 3.2 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Columbia is $2,042 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Columbia is $131,490 per year.
The median home value in Columbia is $497,400 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Columbia is not yet available.
Tax data for Maryland is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
