Howard County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Howard County is located in Maryland with a total population of 333,916. It is the 6th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Howard County is 39.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Howard County is $146,982. This is 45% higher than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 87% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.1%. This is 45% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $576,700. Housing costs are 45% higher than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Howard County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (18.8% vs 6.4%).

Education

64.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Howard County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 42.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.3%. Notably, 33.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.