Residential comparison · 13 facts
Columbia, MD vs Ellicott City, MD
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Columbia needs about $84,500 in Ellicott City to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Ellicott City, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Columbia.
A few differences
- Ellicott City is higher on median household income ($156,964 vs $131,490).
- Columbia is lower on cost of living index (121 vs 130).
- Ellicott City is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,101/mo vs $2,129/mo).
Columbia vs Ellicott City · facet by facet
| Facet | Columbia, MD | Ellicott City, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $497,400 | $661,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,129/mo | $2,101/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.05% | 1.05% |
| State & local income tax | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 121 | 130 |
| Groceries index | 105 | 105 |
| Utilities | $190/mo | $190/mo |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $156,964 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 6.2/10 | 6.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 213 days | 213 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Columbia, MD · Ellicott City, MD
Questions & answers
- Is Columbia cheaper than Ellicott City?
- Columbia has the lower day-to-day cost index (121 vs 130 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Ellicott City equals $85,000 in Columbia?
- A household earning $85,000 in Columbia needs about $84,500 in Ellicott City to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Ellicott City lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Columbia.