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Living in
Ellicott City.
Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City
Ellicott City offers the appeal of an established, affluent suburb with genuine historic character—but you're really signing up for life in a dense, car-dependent area that's part of the Baltimore-Washington sprawl rather than a quaint small town. The median home price hovers around $662,000 and median rent runs about $2,000 monthly, reflecting a solidly upper-middle-class community where median household income exceeds $157,000. The job market is strong with unemployment around 3.5%, and most residents have college degrees, though your average commute will be about 29 minutes—longer if you're heading to Washington.
Ellicott City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
27.7%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Ellicott City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ellicott City, the largest foreign-born group is from India (28.1%), and 8.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.7%
of households
Married Couples
65.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
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 21% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Ellicott City
In Ellicott City, rent runs 21% above the MD average, and home values are 58% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,044
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $725,922 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MD average
Unemployment in Ellicott City
Unemployment in Howard County, which includes Ellicott City, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Ellicott City: Howard County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Howard County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Ellicott City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.2 min avg
How Ellicott City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ellicott City, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 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 Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City, 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
Ellicott City 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
51.0"
Annual Snowfall
28.5"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
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 Ellicott City
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ellicott City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Spring Grove Hospital Center
Psychiatric · 4 mi away · Catonsville
Umd Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.6 mi away · Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Columbia
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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ellicott City
Ellicott City's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 68.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ellicott City (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
4.7 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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ellicott City
Ellicott City has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
11 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
12 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayBaltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
17 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
20 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
24 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
26 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ellicott City
Miller Branch
9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City
Cities Near Ellicott City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ellicott City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ellicott City FAQ
Is Ellicott City, Maryland affordable?⌄
Ellicott City's median rent is $2,061/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $156,964/year. Median home value is $661,700.
Is Ellicott City, Maryland safe?⌄
Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City, Maryland?⌄
Howard County, which includes Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Ellicott City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,061/month and median household income is $156,964/year. The median home value is $661,700. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ellicott City, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Ellicott City is 28 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