Howard County, MD Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 332,547 | 6,103,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1312.5 | 492.0 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.14% | 0.50% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 120,066 | 2,338,890 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Howard County grew by 21.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 333,916 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Howard County has a the economy index of A+, which means it is exceptionally prosperous.
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $147,056 | $101,971 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.67% | 4.27% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 44% higher than in Maryland.
Housing
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $415,318 | $285,029 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $2,038 | $1,661 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.7% | 67.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Howard County is about 17.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $2,038 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Howard County spend about 52 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 219 hours, about 9.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 26.2 | 28.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 52.5 | 57.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 219 | 240 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,781 | $7,433 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 17.2% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 21,567 | 16,437 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,006 | 2,353 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Maryland:
Allegany County (17.5 min), Wicomico County (17.8 min), Talbot County (18.3 min).
Slowest:
Charles County (41.7 min), Calvert County (35.3 min), Prince George's County (32.6 min).
The average commute time in Howard County is 26 minutes, shorter than the 29 minutes in Maryland.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Howard County has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.8% | 39.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.77 | 2.58 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Maryland:
Howard County (0.5), Montgomery County (0.5), Talbot County (0.4).
Lowest:
Somerset County (0.2), Caroline County (0.2), Allegany County (0.2).
Health
Howard County has a health index of A+, which means it is exceptionally healthy.
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.7 | 78.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 8.2% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 9.5% | 15.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Maryland:
Montgomery County (0.8), Howard County (0.8), Frederick County (0.8).
Lowest:
Baltimore city (0.8), Somerset County (0.8), Dorchester County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Howard County, Maryland.
What is the population of Howard County, Maryland?
The population of Howard County, Maryland is 332,547, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Howard County, Maryland?
The population density of Howard County, Maryland is 1312.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Howard County, Maryland?
The median household income in Howard County, Maryland is $147,056, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Howard County, Maryland?
The median home price in Howard County, Maryland is $415,318, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County, Maryland?
The unemployment rate in Howard County, Maryland is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.