ZIP Code 21045
standardSource:
Columbia · Howard County · Maryland
- Population
- 38,288
- Median income
- $118,563
- Median home value
- $453,700
- Bachelor's or higher
- 56.6%
- Land area
- 25.1 sq mi
1,523/sq mi
▲ 55% vs US
higher than 90% of US ZIPs
▲ 63% vs US
higher than 84% of US ZIPs
Median age 39.6
New York
ZIP code 21045 in Columbia, Maryland has a population of 38,288. The median household income is $118,563, which is 55% above the national average. Median home value is $453,700, 63% above the US average. 56.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21045 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 25.1 square miles in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. The area is home to 38,288 residents, producing a population density of 1,523 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 21045 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21045 sits at $118,563 (4% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $56,185. The poverty rate stands at 8.6% and the unemployment rate at 5.3%. On housing, the median home value is $453,700 (1% above the state average) with median rent at $1,777 per month, and 68.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21045 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 56.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 27 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 21045 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 21045
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21045.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
293 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
248 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
136 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
130 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 114
Other services (except public administration)
114 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 21045, 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
38,288
Population
25.1
Area (sq mi)
1,523
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21045?
39.6
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
Female
22.1%
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?
$118,563
Median Household Income
+4% vs state
$56,185
Per Capita Income
8.6%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
27.3 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?
15,780
Total Housing Units
15,414
Occupied Units
366
Vacant Units
2.59
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$453,700
Median Home Value
+1% vs state
$1,777
Median Rent
1978
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
+4.0%
YoY Change (2024)
293
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+193%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21045 have increased 4.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +193% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.8% | 211 |
| 2021 | +7.8% | 227 |
| 2022 | +14.3% | 260 |
| 2023 | +8.3% | 282 |
| 2024 | +4.0% | 293 |
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 1,410 business establishments in ZIP 21045, employing approximately 22,695 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,422,511,000.
1,410
Businesses
22,695
Employees
$1.4B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 293 | 20.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 248 | 17.6% |
| Retail trade | 136 | 9.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 130 | 9.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 114 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 94 | 6.7% |
| Construction | 76 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 61 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 3.9% |
| Educational services | 46 | 3.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 44 | 3.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 43 | 3.0% |
| Information | 24 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 1.6% |
| Manufacturing | 20 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 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 21045 vs 21046 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21046 | Columbia, MD | 15,080 | 2.4 mi |
| 21044 | Columbia, MD | 41,704 | 3.0 mi |
| 21075 | Elkridge, MD | 26,344 | 4.1 mi |
| 21043 | Ellicott City, MD | 42,246 | 3.9 mi |
| 20763 | Savage, MD | 2,664 | 5.0 mi |
| 20794 | Jessup, MD | 14,098 | 4.4 mi |
| 20723 | Laurel, MD | 28,972 | 5.2 mi |
| 20701 | Annapolis Junction, MD | 2 | 6.0 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville, MD | 11,333 | 6.7 mi |
| 20724 | Laurel, MD | 16,093 | 7.4 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21045 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21045? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21045? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21045? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21045? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21045? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21045? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21045? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21045? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21045? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21045? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21045? ▼
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.