Metro area profile · Maryland
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 2,857,781
- +0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 1,120,269
- Median household income
- $99,470
- +21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $391,300
- Jobs located here
- 1,345,791
- Highest market score
- 75
- Coffee shops and cafes, #25 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 2,857,781 people live in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, in 1,120,269 households. Population estimates show the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area grew 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area is $99,470 a year, 23% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 21.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area spend the most on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (91).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area are for coffee shops and cafes (75), pest control companies (74) and pet stores (72). The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area ranks #25 of 387 scored metro areas for coffee shops and cafes.
The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area takes in 7 counties: Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore city, Howard County and 3 more. For its number of households, the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for oil change and quick-lube shops (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops and cafes | 75 | #25 of 387 | 869 | 7.8 | $5.8M | 157 | 544 |
| Pest control | 74 | #24 of 345 | 128 | 1.1 | $15.1M | 147 | 107 |
| Pet stores | 72 | #40 of 382 | 186 | 1.7 | $6.6M | 145 | 77 |
| Pet businesses | 71 | #47 of 387 | 978 | 8.7 | $1.2M | 142 | 582 |
| Roofing and gutters | 70 | #44 of 381 | 378 | 3.4 | $10M | 118 | 156 |
| Chiropractors | 70 | #48 of 386 | 359 | 3.2 | $4M | 169 | 215 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 70 | #48 of 386 | 319 | 2.8 | $3.8M | 150 | 219 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 69 | #57 of 387 | 6,358 | 56.8 | $793K | 120 | 1,791 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 69 | #66 of 387 | 874 | 7.8 | $2.2M | 132 | 1,749 |
| Veterinarians | 68 | #67 of 384 | 349 | 3.1 | $3.5M | 129 | 286 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 68 | #84 of 385 | 529 | 4.7 | $3.6M | 125 | 966 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 67 | #76 of 387 | 10,954 | 97.8 | $460K | 124 | 5,047 |
| Home repair trades | 65 | #69 of 387 | 1,356 | 12.1 | $2.8M | 115 | 1,848 |
| House cleaning | 65 | #71 of 375 | 217 | 1.9 | $8.9M | 139 | 676 |
| Gas stations | 65 | #97 of 387 | 846 | 7.6 | $3.5M | 147 | 612 |
| Laundromats | 63 | #98 of 364 | 126 | 1.1 | $19.9M | 159 | 83 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 62 | #80 of 290 | 49 | 0.4 | $19.9M | 145 | 52 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 62 | #92 of 387 | 692 | 6.2 | $5.5M | 115 | 982 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #100 of 387 | 1,072 | 9.6 | $4.7M | 114 | 595 |
| Insurance agencies | 62 | #122 of 387 | 1,465 | 13.1 | $1.7M | 137 | 943 |
| Electricians | 61 | #99 of 383 | 286 | 2.6 | $13.2M | 110 | 710 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 58 | #119 of 386 | 452 | 4.0 | $3.2M | 103 | 125 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #144 of 387 | 1,345 | 12.0 | $3.7M | 123 | 2,688 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 58 | #147 of 387 | 1,706 | 15.2 | $1.5M | 116 | 877 |
| Gyms | 57 | #123 of 387 | 783 | 7.0 | $1.4M | 111 | 362 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 57 | #146 of 387 | 1,769 | 15.8 | $4.2M | 124 | 1,050 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #135 of 387 | 1,117 | 10.0 | $1.1M | 120 | 243 |
| Funeral homes | 56 | #140 of 377 | 173 | 1.5 | $893K | 132 | 107 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 56 | #157 of 387 | 2,422 | 21.6 | $1M | 117 | 1,144 |
| Convenience stores | 56 | #157 of 387 | 769 | 6.9 | $9.7M | 123 | 418 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 55 | #133 of 387 | 1,550 | 13.8 | $727K | 110 | 695 |
| Car washes and detailing | 55 | #164 of 387 | 337 | 3.0 | $2.9M | 115 | 147 |
| Home inspectors | 52 | #113 of 243 | 71 | 0.6 | Index only | 103 | 75 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #155 of 387 | 2,519 | 22.5 | $467K | 108 | 720 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 51 | #155 of 347 | 238 | 2.1 | $4.7M | 117 | 362 |
| Pizza | 51 | #185 of 387 | 889 | 7.9 | $5.7M | 112 | 2,688 |
| Grocery stores | 51 | #195 of 387 | 671 | 6.0 | $11.1M | 119 | 632 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 50 | #181 of 387 | 529 | 4.7 | $2.1M | 106 | 333 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #194 of 387 | 5,157 | 46.0 | $228K | 107 | 1,308 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 50 | #196 of 387 | 704 | 6.3 | $2.1M | 116 | 1,800 |
| Tire shops | 50 | #207 of 386 | 351 | 3.1 | $2.8M | 111 | 145 |
| Child care and preschools | 47 | #219 of 387 | 792 | 7.1 | $897K | 90 | 680 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #233 of 387 | 619 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 101 | 81 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #221 of 387 | 1,352 | 12.1 | $1.1M | 109 | 1,102 |
| Auto repair and car care | 44 | #245 of 387 | 3,503 | 31.3 | $278K | 103 | 1,560 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #245 of 387 | 3,482 | 31.1 | Index only | 101 | 1,130 |
| Nail salons | 44 | #247 of 387 | 756 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 93 | 242 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 43 | #247 of 387 | 9,947 | 88.8 | $146K | 96 | 3,874 |
| Real estate | 41 | #268 of 387 | 4,523 | 40.4 | Index only | 98 | 2,601 |
| Dry cleaners | 39 | #193 of 272 | 158 | 1.4 | $15.8M | 101 | 184 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #289 of 387 | 2,254 | 20.1 | $432K | 97 | 1,145 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 36 | #287 of 381 | 333 | 3.0 | $2.9M | 95 | 266 |
| Property management | 36 | #305 of 374 | 412 | 3.7 | Index only | 84 | 710 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 34 | #325 of 373 | 558 | 5.0 | Index only | 88 | 312 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 29 | #174 of 197 | 156 | 1.4 | $9.3M | 38 | 99 |
| Physical therapy | 29 | #342 of 386 | 837 | 7.5 | $1.7M | 72 | 533 |
Household spending in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $973.8M | $869 | 91 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $3B | $2,656 | 102 |
| Food away from home | $5B | $4,502 | 111 |
| Groceries | $7.4B | $6,643 | 105 |
| Personal care products and services | $1.2B | $1,050 | 104 |
| Child care and other personal services | $710.5M | $634 | 109 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $1.1B | $1,006 | 102 |
| Medical and dental services | $1.5B | $1,297 | 101 |
| Pets | $1.2B | $1,090 | 120 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $2.5B | $2,235 | 109 |
| Vehicle insurance | $2.5B | $2,244 | 115 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $3.8B | $3,370 | 112 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $1.9B | $1,722 | 122 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $19.3B | $17,186 | 103 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 2,857,781+0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 1,120,269
- Median age
- 40.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 67%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 2,602 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,095
- Median household income
- $99,470+21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $131,059
- Median home value
- $391,300
- Jobs located here
- 1,345,791
- Daytime population
- 2,886,566Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area 7
- Baltimore County, MD850,796 people
- Anne Arundel County, MD598,166 people
- Baltimore city, MD573,243 people
- Howard County, MD336,328 people
- Harford County, MD263,757 people
- Carroll County, MD175,321 people
- Queen Anne’s County, MD51,825 people
Other markets based in Maryland 7
- Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area302,649 people
- Lexington Park, MD metro area209,439 people
- Salisbury, MD metro area129,736 people
- Cumberland, MD-WV area94,306 people
- Ocean Pines, MD area53,700 people
- Easton, MD area37,917 people
- Cambridge, MD area32,754 people
Questions
How fast is the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area at 2,857,781 people in 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 1,120,269 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 21.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area spend?
Households in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area spend about $19.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $7.4B on groceries and $5B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area runs highest on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (91).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, coffee shops and cafes (75), pest control companies (74) and pet stores (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For coffee shops and cafes, that ranks #25 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area is $99,470, 23% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $391,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for oil change and quick-lube shops (43% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Maryland · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.