ZIP Code 21044
standardSource:
Columbia · Howard County · Maryland
- Population
- 41,704
- Median income
- $135,057
- Median home value
- $566,500
- Bachelor's or higher
- 67.9%
- Land area
- 31.1 sq mi
1,342/sq mi
▲ 77% vs US
higher than 94% of US ZIPs
▲ 104% vs US
higher than 90% of US ZIPs
Median age 40
New York
ZIP code 21044 in Columbia, Maryland has a population of 41,704. The median household income is $135,057, which is 77% above the national average. Median home value is $566,500, 104% above the US average. 67.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21044 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 31.1 square miles in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. The area is home to 41,704 residents, producing a population density of 1,342 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 21044 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21044 sits at $135,057 (18% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $68,805. The poverty rate stands at 7.0% and the unemployment rate at 3.9%. On housing, the median home value is $566,500 (27% above the state average) with median rent at $2,166 per month, and 60.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21044 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 67.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40, and the average commute is 29 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 21044 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 21044
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21044.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
257 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
212 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
163 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 101
Accommodation and food services
101 establishments
- Finance and insurance 89
Finance and insurance
89 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 21044, Columbia, MD · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
41,704
Population
31.1
Area (sq mi)
1,342
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21044?
40.0
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
20.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$135,057
Median Household Income
+18% vs state
$68,805
Per Capita Income
7.0%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
29.2 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
19,811
Total Housing Units
18,293
Occupied Units
1,518
Vacant Units
2.39
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$566,500
Median Home Value
+27% vs state
$2,166
Median Rent
1985
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.5%
YoY Change (2024)
274
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+174%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21044 have increased 8.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +174% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.9% | 201 |
| 2021 | +6.3% | 214 |
| 2022 | +13.5% | 242 |
| 2023 | +4.0% | 252 |
| 2024 | +8.5% | 274 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,181 business establishments in ZIP 21044, employing approximately 24,225 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,219,166,000.
1,181
Businesses
24,225
Employees
$2.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 257 | 21.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 212 | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 163 | 13.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 101 | 8.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 89 | 7.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 86 | 7.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 4.7% |
| Construction | 49 | 4.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 45 | 3.8% |
| Educational services | 28 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 20 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 1.6% |
| Information | 19 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10 | 0.8% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 21044 vs 21045 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21045 | Columbia, MD | 38,288 | 3.0 mi |
| 21042 | Ellicott City, MD | 38,076 | 4.2 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville, MD | 11,333 | 3.7 mi |
| 21046 | Columbia, MD | 15,080 | 3.4 mi |
| 20723 | Laurel, MD | 28,972 | 5.2 mi |
| 20759 | Fulton, MD | 3,355 | 4.5 mi |
| 20707 | Laurel, MD | 31,538 | 7.8 mi |
| 20777 | Highland, MD | 3,314 | 5.1 mi |
| 21043 | Ellicott City, MD | 42,246 | 5.6 mi |
| 21075 | Elkridge, MD | 26,344 | 7.1 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21044 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21044? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21044? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21044? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21044? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21044? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21044? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21044? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21044? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21044? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21044? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21044? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Columbia, MD
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.