Population
339,183
2025
+1.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Howard County, MD: population growth, jobs and income
Howard County gained 1,388 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).
Howard County had an estimated 339,183 residents in 2025, up 1.9% (6,374 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Maryland as a whole (+1.4%), and the 15th fastest growth of 24 counties in Maryland.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Howard County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Howard County, ranked against Maryland and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$2,099/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes3.4%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months4272025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−502
2025
−1.5 per 1,000 residents
−5,902 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
2025
+0.7 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
728
2025
−58.0% since 2021
2.1 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$149,763
2020–24
+20.7% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
185,946
2023
+5.1% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 502 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 185,946 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.1% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.5% in 2025, 0.7 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 728 new homes in 2025, or 2.1 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $149,763 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +20.7% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,301st.
Part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.
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Howard County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 339,183 | +1,388 |
| 2024 | 337,795 | +1,474 |
| 2023 | 336,321 | +421 |
| 2022 | 335,900 | +633 |
| 2021 | 335,267 | +2,458 |
| 2020 | 332,809 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Howard County
Howard County grew by 6,374 people since 2020 even though 5,902 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 5,374, and net international migration added 6,563.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +932 | +5,374 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +960 | +6,563 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −502 | −5,902 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −2 | +339 | |
| Total change | +1,388 | +6,374 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Maryland | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 15th of 24 | 1,301st of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 19th of 24 | 2,150th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 4th of 24 | 1,196th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 1st of 24 | 5th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 7th of 24 | 938th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 14th of 24 | 1,467th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Howard County's population change (+1.9%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Carroll County and Frederick County).
Its median household income ($149,763, 2020–24) is higher than in all 6 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, MD This county | 339,183 | +1.9% | −1.5 | 2.1 | $149,763 |
| Carroll County, MD | 176,677 | +2.2% | −0.6 | 0.9 | $118,211 |
| Baltimore County, MD | 847,650 | −0.7% | −4.0 | 1.8 | $91,768 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 1,074,582 | +1.3% | −9.2 | 1.3 | $132,450 |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 603,380 | +1.7% | −0.3 | 3.1 | $124,911 |
| Prince George's County, MD | 970,374 | +0.5% | −3.4 | 2.2 | $101,798 |
| Frederick County, MD | 302,883 | +11.0% | 7.3 | 3.9 | $122,002 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Howard County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 1.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 6,374 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Maryland as a whole changed +1.4% over the same years. That ranks 15th of 24 counties in Maryland for population growth.
How many people moved to Howard County?
On net, none in 2025: about 502 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County?
It averaged 3.5% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Howard County?
About 339,183 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Howard County?
Private employers there had 185,946 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.1% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Maryland
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Maryland county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Howard County data alerts
Email me when Howard County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.