Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 21044: Columbia, MD
ZIP code 21044 is in Columbia, Maryland, entirely in Howard County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 44,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Columbia's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $135,057 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 95% of its land lies in Columbia (a census-designated place); 5% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Columbia · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Howard County
- Census places
- Columbia census-designated place
- Metro area
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- House district
- MD-3 119th Congress
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 11.9 sq mi · 3,711 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 21044?
21044 centers on 39.205°, -76.879° and covers 11.9 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 21045, 21046, 21029, 20723, 21042.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 21044, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 21044 compare with the rest of Columbia?
| Measure | 21044 | In Columbia | In Howard County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 44,114 | 1st of 3 | 2nd of 25 | 29th of 477 |
| Median household income | $135k | 1st of 3 | 17th of 21 | 86th of 293 |
| Median home value | $567k | 1st of 3 | 14th of 23 | 66th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 94% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 91% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 21044?
The 2020 Census counted 44,284 people in 21044; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 44,114. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 6.2% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 44,114
- 2020 Census count
- 44,284+6.2% since 2010 (41,704)
- Households
- 18,293
- Median age
- 40.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 21044?
Of the 44,114 people the ACS estimates in 21044, 19.2% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (43.8%), then Black (not Hispanic) (26.4%).
- Under 1819.2%
- 18 to 6461.3%
- 65 and older19.5%
- White, not Hispanic43.8%
- Black, not Hispanic26.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic12.0%
- Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Other or two or more7.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 21044 earn?
Median household income is $135,057 (ACS 2020-2024), the 17th highest of the 21 ranked ZIP codes in Howard County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($130,715 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $135,057
- Income per person
- $68,805
- Below the poverty line
- 7.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 67.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $114,22622,840 returns; wages 71% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 21044?
FHFA's house price index for 21044, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 50% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 36% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $566,500
- Median gross rent
- $2,166
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 60.3%
- Housing units
- 19,811
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 21044?
1,181 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 44 fewer than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services257
- Health care and social assistance212
- Retail trade163
- Accommodation and food services101
- Finance and insurance89
- Other services (except public administration)86
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 21044?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21045 | Columbia | 40,034 | $119k | 2.7 mi |
| 21046 | Columbia | 15,608 | $128k | 3.2 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville | 13,607 | $244k | 4.4 mi |
| 20723 | Laurel | 36,866 | $138k | 4.7 mi |
| 21042 | Ellicott City | 43,327 | $190k | 5.0 mi |
| 20759 | Fulton | 6,624 | $250k+ | 4.5 mi (near) |
| 20777 | Highland | 3,221 | $226k | 5.3 mi (near) |
| 21043 | Ellicott City | 48,525 | $148k | 5.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.