ZIP Code 21046
standardSource:
Columbia · Howard County · Maryland
- Population
- 15,080
- Median income
- $127,813
- Median home value
- $479,500
- Bachelor's or higher
- 61.7%
- Land area
- 20.2 sq mi
747/sq mi
▲ 68% vs US
higher than 93% of US ZIPs
▲ 72% vs US
higher than 86% of US ZIPs
Median age 37.3
New York
ZIP code 21046 in Columbia, Maryland has a population of 15,080. The median household income is $127,813, which is 68% above the national average. Median home value is $479,500, 72% above the US average. 61.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21046 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 20.2 square miles in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. The area is home to 15,080 residents, producing a population density of 747 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 21046 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21046 sits at $127,813 (12% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $61,404. The poverty rate stands at 8.4% and the unemployment rate at 2.6%. On housing, the median home value is $479,500 (7% above the state average) with median rent at $2,131 per month, and 65.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21046 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 61.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.3, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 21046 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 21046
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21046.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
356 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 101
Health care and social assistance
101 establishments
- Wholesale trade 83
Wholesale trade
83 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 78
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
78 establishments
- Finance and insurance 75
Finance and insurance
75 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 21046, 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
15,080
Population
20.2
Area (sq mi)
747
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21046?
37.3
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
12.1%
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?
$127,813
Median Household Income
+12% vs state
$61,404
Per Capita Income
8.4%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 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?
6,382
Total Housing Units
6,165
Occupied Units
217
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$479,500
Median Home Value
+7% vs state
$2,131
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
+0.7%
YoY Change (2024)
276
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+176%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21046 have increased 0.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +176% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.5% | 206 |
| 2021 | +9.3% | 226 |
| 2022 | +10.9% | 250 |
| 2023 | +9.6% | 274 |
| 2024 | +0.7% | 276 |
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 1,119 business establishments in ZIP 21046, employing approximately 39,273 people with a combined annual payroll of $4,161,110,000.
1,119
Businesses
39,273
Employees
$4.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 356 | 31.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 101 | 9.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 83 | 7.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 78 | 7.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 75 | 6.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 6.7% |
| Construction | 66 | 5.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 50 | 4.5% |
| Information | 42 | 3.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 40 | 3.6% |
| Retail trade | 35 | 3.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 30 | 2.7% |
| Educational services | 29 | 2.6% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 1.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 15 | 1.3% |
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 21046 vs 21045 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21045 | Columbia, MD | 38,288 | 2.4 mi |
| 20723 | Laurel, MD | 28,972 | 2.9 mi |
| 20763 | Savage, MD | 2,664 | 3.0 mi |
| 20794 | Jessup, MD | 14,098 | 3.3 mi |
| 21044 | Columbia, MD | 41,704 | 3.4 mi |
| 20701 | Annapolis Junction, MD | 2 | 4.5 mi |
| 20759 | Fulton, MD | 3,355 | 4.8 mi |
| 20724 | Laurel, MD | 16,093 | 5.4 mi |
| 20707 | Laurel, MD | 31,538 | 5.6 mi |
| 21075 | Elkridge, MD | 26,344 | 5.2 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21046 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21046? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21046? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21046? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21046? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21046? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21046? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21046? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21046? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21046? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21046? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21046? ▼
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.