Howard County, Maryland: commercial real estate data.
Howard County, Maryland had an estimated 339,668 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 332,313, across 251 square miles. County output reached $37.13 bn in 2024, 10,050 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 572 7(a) approvals worth $235.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Howard County
How many people live in Howard County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024336,328
- Households121,065
- Average household size2.78
- Median household income$149,763
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$2,099 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$597,900
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher64.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree34.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over229,908
- Population under 1879,917
- Share under 1823.8 percent
- Population 65 and over51,275
- Share 65 and over15.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64205,136
- Civilian labor force181,999
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.0 percent
- Rank by population among Maryland counties6th of 24
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included218th of 3,222
Howard County is the 6th largest of 24 Maryland counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.8 percent against 15.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Howard County
Is Howard County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024339,668
- Census 2020 base population332,313
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.21 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,327
- Births, 20243,054
- Deaths, 20242,002
- Natural change, 20241,052
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,271
- Net international migration, 20242,538
- Total net migration, 20241,267
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-5,336
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1104th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.21 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Howard County
Where are people moving to Howard County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving11,445
- People arriving, from those returns20,258
- Tax returns filed by households leaving12,760
- Net household movement-1,315
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.07 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-411.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$93,315
- Average income of a leaving household$115,905
- Largest single originPrince George's County (1,439 households)
- Largest single destinationAnne Arundel County (1,692 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | 1,439 | 2,635 | $97.5 m |
| Montgomery County | 1,377 | 2,590 | $139.9 m |
| Baltimore County | 1,335 | 2,452 | $110.5 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 1,309 | 2,226 | $110.8 m |
| Baltimore city | 844 | 1,360 | $79.3 m |
| Carroll County | 243 | 417 | $25.6 m |
| District of Columbia | 209 | 336 | $24.9 m |
| Fairfax County | 191 | 345 | $23.9 m |
Households arriving report $22,590 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Prince George's County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Howard County
What is the Howard County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$37.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$34.85 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.5 percent
- GDP change over five years29.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maryland areas BEA publishes6th of 24
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes162nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$110,397
Output grew 6.5 percent in the latest year and 29.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Howard County
Employment by industry in Howard County
- Covered employment, annual average173,483
- Establishments reporting11,342
- Average annual pay$86,951
- Average weekly wage$1,672
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment33,176
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$141,132
- Health care and social assistance, employment18,693
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$62,121
- Retail trade, employment16,088
- Retail trade, average annual pay$46,344
- Wholesale trade, employment13,487
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$105,497
- Accommodation and food services, employment12,736
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment11,778
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 33,176 | 2,802 | $141,132 |
| Health care and social assistance | 18,693 | 1,302 | $62,121 |
| Retail trade | 16,088 | 878 | $46,344 |
| Wholesale trade | 13,487 | 593 | $105,497 |
| Accommodation and food services | 12,736 | 673 | $28,311 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 11,778 | 683 | $61,926 |
| Construction | 11,299 | 824 | $92,775 |
| Manufacturing | 6,904 | 248 | $88,493 |
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 33,176 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Howard County
How many businesses are in Howard County?
- Establishments, all industries10,050
- Employment at those establishments185,946
- Annual payroll$15.42 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Howard County
Building permits in Howard County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024881
- Declared construction value permitted$202.0 m
- Single family units authorized592
- Multifamily units authorized289
- Multifamily share of units32.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$229,292
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.3
Single-family homes are 67.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Howard County
SBA loans in Howard County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded572
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$235.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$411,324
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$999,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)6,493
- Jobs per approval11.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active81
- Distinct industries receiving approvals185
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms39
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter497
- Franchise loans84
- Franchise share of approvals14.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (27)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (230)
- 504 approvals recorded65
- 504 gross approval dollars$75.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,159,308
- Median 504 approval$647,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval18.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.2
- Most active CDCBusiness Finance Group, Inc. (48)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$310.6 m
The average approval of $411,324 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Howard County
Do SBA loans in Howard County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded99
- Paid in full94
- Charged off5
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full94
- Status: Exempt from disclosure338
- Status: Cancelled84
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed51
Of the 99 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
SBA lending by place in Howard County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending25
- Columbia, approvals245
- Ellicott City, approvals99
- Elkridge, approvals61
- Jessup, approvals26
- Clarksville, approvals24
- Laurel, approvals23
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 245 | $111,697,600 |
| Ellicott City | 99 | $31,609,200 |
| Elkridge | 61 | $23,375,600 |
| Jessup | 26 | $19,653,300 |
| Clarksville | 24 | $7,971,300 |
| Laurel | 23 | $9,442,600 |
| Fulton | 18 | $5,661,000 |
| Woodbine | 16 | $4,088,000 |
| 17 other borrower cities | 60 | $21,778,800 |
Columbia accounts for 245 approvals against 99 in Ellicott City. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
How large is Howard County?
- Land area251 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maryland counties22nd of 24
- Width, east to west26.2 mi
- Height, north to south17.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land1,340
- Establishments per square mile40.04
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Howard County
Flood risk in Howard County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Howard County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 240044
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Howard County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Howard County (community 240044), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Howard County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Howard County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Howard County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024336,328
- Households121,065
- Average household size2.78
- Median household income$149,763
- Median age39.8
Common questions
Howard County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Howard County, Maryland?
The Census Bureau estimates 339,668 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 336,328, in 121,065 households, ranking 6th of 24 Maryland counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Howard County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.21 percent since the 2020 census base of 332,313, to 339,668 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,054 births against 2,002 deaths, with net migration of 1,267. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Howard County?
$149,763. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $597,900, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $2,099 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Howard County?
10,050 establishments, employing 185,946 people with an annual payroll of $15.42 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Howard County?
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 33,176 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 173,483 jobs at an average annual pay of $86,951, or $1,672 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Howard County?
572 7(a) approvals totaling $235.3 m since FY2020, across 81 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 65 504 approvals worth $75.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Howard County get paid back?
Of the 99 loans that have reached a final outcome, 94 were paid in full and 5 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Howard County?
881 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $202.0 m. Multifamily was 32.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Howard County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Howard County come from?
The largest single origin is Prince George's County, with 1,439 households. Arriving households report an average income of $93,315 against $115,905 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Howard County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Howard County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Howard County
Cities and places in Howard.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Howard County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | CDP | 104,338 | 245 | Wholly in this county |
| Ellicott City | CDP | 75,257 | 99 | Wholly in this county |
| Ilchester | CDP | 28,364 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elkridge | CDP | 26,283 | 61 | Wholly in this county |
| North Laurel | CDP | 25,563 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Scaggsville | CDP | 10,564 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jessup | CDP | 9,931 | 26 | 41.4 percent here, 58.6 percent Anne Arundel County |
| Savage | CDP | 8,239 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Fulton | CDP | 5,677 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Highland | CDP | 972 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Lisbon | CDP | 126 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 114 of the county's 572 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Howard County, the largest being Clarksville (24), Laurel (23), Woodbine (16). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.