State rank#6 of 24
Smallest county336,328 residentsMontgomery County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 24027
Howard County, Maryland
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population336,328
Household income$149,763
Unemployment2.6%
Life expectancy82.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Howard County has 336,328 residents and ranks #6 by population among Maryland county equivalents. Median household income is $149,763. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.6%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Maryland
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Howard County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Howard County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $597,900 median home value and $2,099/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $149,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Howard County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 64.5% and life expectancy is 82.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $149,763, rank #1 of 24 available Maryland counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 64.5%, rank #1 of 24 available Maryland counties.
- Poor or fair health: 10.7%, rank #1 of 24 available Maryland counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $2,099/mo, rank #24 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $597,900, rank #23 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 234 residents, rank #6 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Maryland
Rank and range use only counties in Maryland with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$149,763
$149,763; above the state county median of $91,888.
State rank #1 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$597,900
$597,900; above the state county median of $380,550.
State rank #23 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,099/mo
$2,099/mo; above the state county median of $1,402/mo.
State rank #24 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.6%
2.6%; below the state county median of 3.2%.
State rank #3 of 24 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
64.5%
64.5%; above the state county median of 36.6%.
State rank #1 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
82.5 years
82.5 years; above the state county median of 76.9 years.
State rank #2 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
10.7%
10.7%; below the state county median of 15.6%.
State rank #1 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.3%
4.3%; below the state county median of 6.1%.
State rank #1 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 545 residents
1 per 545 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,867 residents.
State rank #1 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 234 residents
1 per 234 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 356 residents.
State rank #6 of 24 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Howard County FAQ
Is Howard County a good place to live?
Howard County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 64.5% and life expectancy is 82.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Howard County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $597,900 median home value and $2,099/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $149,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Howard County?
Howard County has 336,328 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Howard County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 24027; the parent state FIPS is 24.
What is the median household income in Howard County?
The ACS median household income is $149,763.
How much does housing cost in Howard County?
Housing benchmarks are $597,900 median home value and $2,099/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $149,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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