Howard County, Maryland Income Statistics
Howard County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
A+
Howard County Top gradeWealthiest county in Maryland
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $149,813 | $103,916 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $102,910 | $75,715 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 31.7% | 20.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 34.7% | 20.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 44% higher than in Maryland. Income has been growing slower in Howard County (3.4%/yr) than in Maryland (4.0%/yr).
About 32% of adults in Howard County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Maryland average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Howard County, Maryland grew by 47.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $149,813 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $113,976 | $84,327 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $93,300 | $72,201 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.1% | 14.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Howard County, it is 0.507, lower than Maryland's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Howard County, Maryland. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $723,660 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Maryland has narrowed from about 30% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,773 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 26.0% | 19.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 6,358 people are unemployed in Howard County, Maryland.
The average commute time in Howard County is 25 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in Maryland.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Maryland has fallen from 4.5% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.1% in 2013.
Howard County, MD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, MD is the 4th largest of the 5 counties compared here, 336,328 residents against a local median of 764,548. Howard County, MD's median household income, at $149,813, runs 31% above the $114,475 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.4% against a local median of 4.9%, 30% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Howard County, MD is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $39,811 on median household income, so Howard County, MD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard County, MD has the highest median household income of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, MD | 336,328 | $149,813 #1/5 | 3.4%/yr #5/5 | 3.4% #1/5 | 0.507 #2/5 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 1,065,586 | $132,324 | 3.5%/yr | 4.9% | 0.525 |
| Carroll County, MD | 175,325 | $118,379 | 3.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.516 |
| District of Columbia, DC | 678,314 | $110,571 | 5.3%/yr | 6.3% | 0.501 |
| Baltimore County, MD | 850,783 | $92,513 | 3.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard County, Maryland has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it somewhat better than Maryland, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Howard County, Maryland.
How Rich Is Howard County, Maryland?
Howard County has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $149,813, about 44% higher than the Maryland average of $103,916.
How has median household income changed in Howard County, Maryland?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Maryland rose 48%, from $101,301 to $149,813. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Maryland as a whole: +48% against +49%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Maryland was $147,056, up 4% from $141,857 in 2022. The Maryland median that year was $101,974.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Maryland was $124,261. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $149,813.
Is Howard County, Maryland a high-income area?
Yes. 32% of adults in Howard County, Maryland earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Maryland. 35% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in Maryland.
How strong is the job market in Howard County, Maryland?
Unemployment in Howard County, Maryland is only 3.4%, well below the Maryland rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Maryland?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.507. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Howard County, Maryland?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Maryland has narrowed from about 30% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,773 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →