Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 56 min5:41 am – 8:37 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 25 min7:23 am – 4:47 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People44,114 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.018,293 householdsMedian household income $135,057Median home value $566,500Median rent $2,166 a month60% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $6,560 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting4.0% unemployment rate69% of adults are in the labour force, 23,633 employedMain industries: education and health care 29%, professional and business services 21%, public administration 12%Average commute 29 minutes63% drive alone, 5% car-pool, 2% take public transport, 2% walk or cycle, 28% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages68% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher96% finished high school, 37% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 75%, Spanish 7%, Chinese 4%, other Indo-European languages 4%8% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 89°F, lows 69°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 26°F48 in of rain a year, on about 78 dayswettest month September29 in of snow a year, on about 13 days36 days above 90°F, 86 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Laurel 3 W station, 8 mi away; snow from Columbia 2.3 N
Nearby landmarksHoward Community Collegecollege · under a mileCentennial Lakelake · 2.8 miWilde Lakelake · 1.5 miMaryland University of Integrative Healthcollege · 2.8 miSymphony Woodswoods · 1.0 miMiddle Patuxent Riverriver · 5.3 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsHawthorn Parkpark · under a mileSymphony Woods Parkpark · under a mile · 61 acresPatuxent River Spstate park · 6.7 mi · 335 acresPatapsco Valley Spstate park · 6.9 miPatuxent Research Refugenational wildlife refuge · 8.9 mi · 12,824 acresPatuxent Oxbow Heritage Conservationstate conservation land · 7.2 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes1 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.6 on 16 Jul 201029 mi away, near Barnesville, MarylandMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 16 Jul 201029 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowHoward County, MD, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsWinter weather Relatively HighStrong wind Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality80% of days had good air in 2025293 of 365 days measured72 moderate daysMedian index 33, worst day 78main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Howard County monitors, MD
Internet at home95% of households have a broadband subscription89% have cable, fibre or DSL5% rely on a mobile data plan alone2% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterHoward County D.p.w. Distributionserves 286,158 people from surface water purchasedNo health-based violations since 20211 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation416 ft127 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalHoward County General Hospitalunder a milePost officeAmerican Cities Post Officeunder a mileTown hallLaurel Municipal Center7.0 miPoliceHoward County Police Department Southern District4.2 miFire stationHoward County Fire Department Station 7 - Bannekerunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi15 schools8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 2 otherElementaryClemens Crossing Elementary Schoolunder a mileMiddleWilde Lake Middle Schoolunder a mileHighWilde Lake High Schoolunder a mileCollegeHoward Community Collegeunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportBaltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport BWI12 miInterstateI-954.1 miUS highwayUS 292.9 miAmtrakBWI Marshall Airport, MD BWI9.9 miRailJESSUP MARC sbMaryland Transit Administration (MTA)6.6 miCoachColumbia, MD (Broken Land Park & Ride, East Lot)OurBus2.7 miTransit77 stops within a mileRegional Transportation Agency (RTA), Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 21044 ZIP area.
