Zip code 21045: Columbia, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21045?

21045 is assigned to Columbia, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21045 in?

21045 is in Howard County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21045?

About 40,034 people live in 21045, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21045?

The median household income in 21045 is $118,563.

Q: What zip codes are near 21045?

The closest zip codes to 21045 are 21046, 21044, 21043, 20794, 21075.

Residential delivery areaHoward CountyEastern Time

Population

40,034

Median household income

$119K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$454K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,777/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

39.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

9.7 sq mi

4,128 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 21045

21045 is an urban zip code in Columbia, Maryland (Howard County), covering 9.7 sq mi of land. About 40,034 people live here, or 4,128 per square mile. The median resident is 39.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $118,563 a year, 47% above the national median of $80,734. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $453,700, or 3.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 68% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,777 a month.

57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.3 minutes each way, and 24% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; education; and computer and math (tech). 27% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 21045 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Diversity index71.8
96th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.720th of 446 in MD
Tech workers9.6%
96th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%59th of 444 in MD
Government workers24.3%
94th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%152nd of 444 in MD
Work from home24.4%
87th
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%96th of 444 in MD
Median earnings per worker$69,663
87th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200166th of 443 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher56.6%
86th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%85th of 445 in MD
Median household income$118,563
84th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678167th of 414 in MD
Broadband access95.7%
82nd
StrengthU.S. 91% · MD 92.4%141st of 441 in MD
Per capita income$56,185
81st
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,979179th of 446 in MD
Foreign-born residents22.1%
78th
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%57th of 446 in MD
Veterans8%
77th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%170th of 446 in MD
Population density4,128/sq mi
76th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi61st of 446 in MD
Median gross rent$1,777
72nd
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705125th of 338 in MD
Median home value$453,700
69th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900174th of 421 in MD
Population40,034
67th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,01142nd of 446 in MD
Residents 65 and older18.3%
63rd
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%210th of 446 in MD
Unemployment rate5.4%
59th
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%139th of 444 in MD
Average commute27.3 min
58th
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min322nd of 421 in MD
Self-employed workers9.9%
57th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%175th of 444 in MD
Residents under 1822.7%
56th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%182nd of 446 in MD
Median age39.6
54th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4282nd of 446 in MD
Homeownership rate68.3%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%320th of 441 in MD
Rent-burdened renters49.2%
44th
U.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%208th of 404 in MD
Uninsured rate6%
43rd
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%121st of 444 in MD
Healthcare workers8.8%
39th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%191st of 444 in MD
Poverty rate8.6%
36th
U.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%170th of 441 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.412
30th
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456194th of 438 in MD
Housing vacancy2.3%
5th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%348th of 441 in MD

Measure	21045	Howard	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Diversity index	71.8	70.3	67.7	61.4	96th	20th of 446
Tech workers	9.6%	11.9%	6.4%	3.8%	96th	59th of 444
Government workers	24.3%	22.9%	22.5%	14.5%	94th	152nd of 444
Work from home	24.4%	26%	19.3%	15.1%	87th	96th of 444
Median earnings per workerStrength	$69,663	$83,801	$61,200	$49,666	87th	166th of 443
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	56.6%	64.5%	43.4%	35.7%	86th	85th of 445
Median household incomeStrength	$118,563	$149,763	$103,678	$80,734	84th	167th of 414
Broadband accessStrength	95.7%	96.6%	92.4%	91%	82nd	141st of 441
Per capita incomeStrength	$56,185	$67,501	$52,979	$44,673	81st	179th of 446
Foreign-born residents	22.1%	22.8%	16.6%	14.1%	78th	57th of 446
Veterans	8%	6%	6.8%	6.2%	77th	170th of 446
Population density	4,128/sq mi	1,340/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	76th	61st of 446
Median gross rent	$1,777	$2,099	$1,705	$1,413	72nd	125th of 338
Median home value	$453,700	$597,900	$419,900	$332,700	69th	174th of 421
Population	40,034	336,328	6,206,011	334,922,499	67th	42nd of 446
Residents 65 and older	18.3%	15.2%	16.7%	17.2%	63rd	210th of 446
Unemployment rate	5.4%	3.5%	4.9%	5.2%	59th	139th of 444
Average commute	27.3 min	28.5 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	58th	322nd of 421
Self-employed workers	9.9%	9.2%	8.7%	10%	57th	175th of 444
Residents under 18	22.7%	23.8%	22.2%	22%	56th	182nd of 446
Median age	39.6	39.8	39.4	38.9	54th	282nd of 446
Homeownership rate	68.3%	71.5%	67.6%	65.2%	49th	320th of 441
Rent-burdened renters	49.2%	47.7%	51.5%	51.1%	44th	208th of 404
Uninsured rate	6%	4.2%	6.3%	8.4%	43rd	121st of 444
Healthcare workers	8.8%	9.7%	9%	9.7%	39th	191st of 444
Poverty rate	8.6%	5.2%	9.4%	12.5%	36th	170th of 441
Income inequality (Gini)	0.412	0.414	0.456	0.483	30th	194th of 438
Housing vacancy	2.3%	3.4%	7.7%	10.1%	5th	348th of 441

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

16%

35–44

12%

45–54

12%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

39.6

Under 18

22.7%

65 and over

18.3%

Race and ethnicity

White40%
Black31%
Hispanic13%
Asian10%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.6%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

71.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

22.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

39.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

73%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 15,414
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 67.4%
Married couples: 46.7%
Living alone: 27.5%
Veterans (of adults): 8%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

11%

$25–50k

$50–75k

11%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

14%

$200k+

24%

Median household income

21045

$118,563

Howard Co.

$149,763

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$56,185

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

37.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.412

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21045

$453,700

Howard Co.

$597,900

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21045

$1,777

Howard Co.

$2,099

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

72%

2–4 units

5–19 units

18%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 15,780
Owner-occupied: 68.3%
Vacant: 2.3%
Median year built: 1978
Median rooms: 6.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 49.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18.7%
Home value to income: 3.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

66%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.7%

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

24%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

29%

20–29

22%

30–44

24%

45–59

60+

Average commute

27.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

70.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Education

11%

Computer and math

10%

Healthcare

Office and admin

Sales

Business and finance

Transportation and moving

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Construction and repair

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Production

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Professional and technical services

14%

Education

14%

Public administration

Retail

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Admin, support and management

Information

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

0.9%

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$69,663

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

24.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21045	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$96,327	$74,888
Service	$24,042	$26,804
Sales and office	$45,859	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$54,171	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,468	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

15%

Some college

15%

Associate's

Bachelor's

26%

Graduate

31%

High school graduate or higher: 93.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 56.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 30.9%
Households with broadband: 95.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 89.8%
No internet access: 3.3%
Without health insurance: 6%
Limited-English households: 5.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Columbia
State: Maryland
County: Howard County
Center point: 39.2060° N, 76.8282° W
Land area: 9.7 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Columbia (unincorporated)99% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 21045

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21046	Columbia, MD	2.2 mi	15,608	$127,813	$479,500
21044	Columbia, MD	2.7 mi	44,114	$135,057	$566,500
21043	Ellicott City, MD	3.7 mi	48,525	$148,125	$620,900
20794	Jessup, MD	4.2 mi	16,814	$116,406	$426,100
21075	Elkridge, MD	4.2 mi	37,363	$135,303	$455,300
20763	Savage, MD	4.8 mi	2,601	$76,842	$419,200
20723	Laurel, MD	5.2 mi	36,866	$138,113	$525,400
20701	Annapolis Junction, MD	5.5 mi	513	$85,594	—
21076	Hanover, MD	6.1 mi	24,268	$146,869	$513,300
21042	Ellicott City, MD	6.1 mi	43,327	$190,061	$706,400
21228	Catonsville, MD	6.3 mi	50,492	$112,656	$404,700
21041	Ellicott City, MD · PO box	6.4 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 21045 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 21045

What city is zip code 21045?

21045 is assigned to Columbia, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21045 in?

21045 is in Howard County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21045?

About 40,034 people live in 21045, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21045 in?

21045 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21045?

The median household income in 21045 is $118,563.

What zip codes are near 21045?

The closest zip codes to 21045 are 21046, 21044, 21043, 20794, 21075.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21045, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.