Columbia, MD housing market
The typical Columbia home is worth about $508,000, about the same as a year ago, 19% above the Maryland typical home. Homes typically sell in 20 days, a little above asking.
Home values, sales, trends and how Columbia compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Columbia at a glance
A strong seller's market
Homes are selling faster than new ones are listed: less than two months of supply. Well-priced homes can draw several offers.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Columbia | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $352,000 | $290,000 |
| 2018 | $362,000 | $301,000 |
| 2019 | $370,000 | $310,000 |
| 2020 | $381,000 | $322,000 |
| 2021 | $406,000 | $349,000 |
| 2022 | $443,000 | $384,000 |
| 2023 | $465,000 | $398,000 |
| 2024 | $486,000 | $412,000 |
| 2025 | $507,000 | $427,000 |
| 2026 | $506,000 | $429,000 |
| August 2026 | $508,000 | $428,000 |
Columbia and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $508K | +0.5% | $2,380 | $131,490 |
| Scaggsville | — | +2.8%† | $2,320 | $207,220 |
| Ellicott City | $736K | +0.7% | $2,370 | $156,964 |
| Ilchester | — | +2%† | $2,350 | $152,103 |
| North Laurel | — | +2.8%† | $2,320 | $122,949 |
| Savage | $586K | +1% | $2,300 | $116,895 |
| Jessup | $509K | 0% | $2,370 | $128,851 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
3.9 years of income
The typical Columbia home costs about 3.9 years of the town's median household income, about the same as across Maryland (4.1).
How Columbia ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $2,380
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Columbia is $2,380 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Columbia pay a median of $2,042, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 22% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,740 · 4 bedrooms $3,340
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (21029, 21044, 21045, 21046; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.