Area data
Columbia, MD — ZIP 21046
Population: 15,608 (Census ACS)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $527,164
- 1-year appreciation
- +0.1%
- 3-year appreciation
- +5.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- +17.1%
- 10-year appreciation
- +45.7%
- All-time peak (2026-04)
- $528,972
- House Price Index
- 367.5 (+0.7% YoY)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $256,500
- Median list price
- $280,250
- Median days on market
- 5 days
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 101.0%
- Active listings
- 2
- 1-year forecast
- -0.3%
- New listings (monthly)
- 16
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,004/mo
- 1-year rent change
- -0.2%
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,437/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,216/mo
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 108.0 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 19.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.10/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Schools
- Total schools
- 3
- Elementary schools
- 2
- Middle schools
- 0
- High schools
- 1
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards
- lightning, strongWind, winterWeather, drought, heatWave
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
Climate (30-year normals)
- Annual precipitation
- 50.9 in
- Annual snowfall
- 28.5 in
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 38
- Days with Good air quality
- 268
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 3
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 15.3 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 188
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 58
- Nearest national park
- Baltimore-Washington Parkway (10 mi)
- Nearest airport
- Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) (8 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 33
- Avg hospital rating
- 3.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.1 kWh/m²/day)
Migration
- Net migration
- -1,315 tax filers
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,985
- Median annual property tax
- $5,704
- Mean commute to work
- 19 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 92.2%
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 151,376
- Average weekly wage
- $1,643
- Top industries (by employment)
- Professional Services, Health Care, Wholesale Trade
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 592
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Aug 2026. See all data sources →