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 –
People40,034 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 39.615,414 householdsMedian household income $118,563Median home value $453,700Median rent $1,777 a month68% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $5,700 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting5.4% unemployment rate70% of adults are in the labour force, 21,093 employedMain industries: education and health care 29%, professional and business services 18%, public administration 9%Average commute 27 minutes66% drive alone, 6% car-pool, 2% take public transport, 24% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages57% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher94% finished high school, 31% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 74%, Spanish 10%, other Indo-European languages 4%, other languages 3%11% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 89°F, lows 68°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 25°F45 in of rain a year, on about 75 dayswettest month July19 in of snow a year, on about 9 days34 days above 90°F, 93 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Baltimore Wash Intl Ap station, 8 mi away
Nearby landmarksCentennial Lakelake · 2.9 miLake Kittamaqundilake · 1.5 miHoward Community Collegecollege · 2.7 miSymphony Woodswoods · 1.8 miMaryland University of Integrative Healthcollege · 4.2 miLawyers Hillpeak · 5.4 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsBlandair Parkpark · under a mile · 292 acresSewells Orchard Parkpark · under a milePatapsco Valley Spstate park · 5.8 miPatuxent Research Refugenational wildlife refuge · 8.1 mi · 12,837 acresPatuxent Oxbow Heritage Conservationstate conservation land · 6.3 miBaltimore National Cemeteryhistoric site · 7.9 mi · 79 acresSource: 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 201031 mi away, near Barnesville, MarylandMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 16 Jul 201031 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 home96% of households have a broadband subscription90% have cable, fibre or DSL5% rely on a mobile data plan alone3% 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
Elevation417 ft127 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalHoward County General Hospital3.1 miPost officeColumbia Post Office1.6 miTown hallLaurel Municipal Center7.3 miPoliceMaryland State Police - Barrack A Waterloo3.4 miFire stationHoward County Fire Department Station 9 - Long Reachunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi15 schools8 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 2 otherElementaryJeffers Hill Elementary Schoolright hereHighOakland Mills High Schoolunder a mileElementaryCelebration Christian Academyunder a mileCollegeHoward Community College2.7 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportBaltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport BWI8.8 miInterstateI-952.9 miUS highwayUS 292.1 miAmtrakBWI Marshall Airport, MD BWI7.2 miRailJESSUP MARC sbMaryland Transit Administration (MTA)4.7 miCoachColumbia, MD (Broken Land Park & Ride, East Lot)OurBus2.5 miTransit64 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 21045 ZIP area.
