© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Elkridge.
Elkridge is an unincorporated community in Howard County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Elkridge
If you're considering Elkridge, you're looking at a solidly affluent suburban area in the middle of the Baltimore-Washington corridor that's experiencing real growth. The flip side is that housing is expensive; median home values hit $454,000 and rent runs about $2,300 monthly, so this isn't the place to save money on housing costs. Your commute will likely be reasonable at around 26 minutes on average, though traffic on I-95 and Washington Boulevard can get heavy during rush hours—the area's main corridor is literally defined by Route 1, a historical road that's essential for daily movement.
Elkridge at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Foreign-Born
24.4%
Broadband Internet
97.6%
of households
Median household income
Demographics24.4% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Elkridge: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elkridge, the largest foreign-born group is from India (17.8%), and 5.2% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
7.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.7%
of households
Married Couples
52.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.81
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 35% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Elkridge
In Elkridge, rent runs 35% above the MD average, and home values are 8% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,254
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $477,632 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MD average
Unemployment in Elkridge
Unemployment in Howard County, which includes Elkridge, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Elkridge: Howard County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Howard County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Elkridge Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.4 min avg
How Elkridge residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elkridge, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Howard County Police Department, which covers Elkridge, runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
116.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,483
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Howard County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 26 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Howard County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Howard County, which includes Elkridge, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 26 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Winter Weather | $3.0M |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $291,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $126,500 |
| 2020 | 36 | Dense Fog | $246,500 |
| 2019 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 47 | Dense Fog | $10.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Howard County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Howard County, which includes Elkridge, is typically good — 293 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
293
per year
Moderate Days
72
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Howard County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elkridge has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.0"
Annual Snowfall
19.3"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 3.08" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 2.90" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.01" |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 3.39" |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 3.85" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 4.48" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 4.09" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.44" |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 3.94" |
| Nov | 57°F | 37°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 48°F | 30°F | 3.71" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Elkridge
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Elkridge's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Spring Grove Hospital Center
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · Catonsville
Saint Agnes Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Baltimore
Medstar Harbor Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.6 mi away · Baltimore
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elkridge
Elkridge's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 58.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Elkridge (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 16,136 students · in-state tuition $12,186 · 72% graduate · median earnings $70,158 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
2.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,701 students · in-state tuition $13,679 · 71% graduate · median earnings $74,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $8,346 · 53% graduate · median earnings $56,585 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,649 students · in-state tuition $4,146 · 21% graduate · median earnings $53,227 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,693 students · in-state tuition $67,170 · 94% graduate · median earnings $104,590 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,869 students · in-state tuition $59,150 · 79% graduate · median earnings $90,179 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elkridge
Elkridge has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
7 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
8 mi awayBaltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
15 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
19 mi awayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
21 mi awayChesapeake Bay
National Park Site
21 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elkridge
Elkridge Branch
6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge
Cities Near Elkridge
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elkridge?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elkridge FAQ
Is Elkridge, Maryland affordable?⌄
Elkridge's median rent is $2,295/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $139,913/year. Median home value is $454,200.
Is Elkridge, Maryland safe?⌄
Elkridge is policed by the Howard County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 116 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1483 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elkridge, Maryland?⌄
Howard County, which includes Elkridge, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elkridge, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Elkridge is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,295/month and median household income is $139,913/year. The median home value is $454,200. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elkridge, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Elkridge is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from