County profile · Maryland
Howard County, MD market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Howard County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 339,183
- +1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 121,065
- Median household income
- $149,763
- +23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $597,900
- Jobs located here
- 185,575
- Highest market score
- 86
- Laundromats, #25 of 785 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Howard County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Howard County. 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 339,183 people live in Howard County, in 121,065 households. Population estimates put the population change in Howard County from 2020 to 2025 at +1.9%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Howard County is $149,763 a year, 86% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Howard County spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 154, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (109, still above the U.S.).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Howard County are for laundromats (86), pest control companies (82) and gas stations (82). Howard County ranks #25 of 785 scored counties for laundromats.
Howard County is part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. For its number of households, Howard County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for urgent care and walk-in clinics (3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for convenience stores (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Howard County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Howard County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laundromats | 86 | #25 of 785 | 8 | 0.7 | $41.8M | 334 | 5 |
| Pest control | 82 | #13 of 699 | 12 | 1.0 | $21.2M | 207 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 82 | #106 of 2,358 | 78 | 6.4 | $4.7M | 197 | 57 |
| Tire shops | 80 | #95 of 1,530 | 22 | 1.8 | $5.7M | 229 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 80 | #157 of 2,261 | 44 | 3.6 | $20.8M | 264 | 31 |
| Car washes and detailing | 79 | #62 of 1,451 | 25 | 2.1 | $5M | 200 | 12 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 77 | #235 of 2,402 | 159 | 13.1 | $5.8M | 170 | 79 |
| Chiropractors | 76 | #120 of 1,490 | 58 | 4.8 | $3.3M | 137 | 28 |
| Grocery stores | 76 | #265 of 2,070 | 67 | 5.5 | $13.7M | 147 | 48 |
| Electricians | 75 | #87 of 1,160 | 27 | 2.2 | $18.6M | 155 | 79 |
| Funeral homes | 75 | #125 of 1,472 | 8 | 0.7 | $2.1M | 314 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #220 of 2,401 | 285 | 23.5 | $443K | 165 | 133 |
| Roofing and gutters | 74 | #109 of 1,177 | 51 | 4.2 | $9.9M | 116 | 19 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 74 | #198 of 2,063 | 98 | 8.1 | $6.9M | 186 | 66 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 73 | #143 of 1,707 | 68 | 5.6 | $7.4M | 155 | 112 |
| Barbershops | 73 | #165 of 1,356 | 50 | 4.1 | $3.1M | 164 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 73 | #255 of 2,378 | 180 | 14.9 | $701K | 158 | 99 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 72 | #196 of 1,493 | 59 | 4.9 | $4.3M | 147 | 121 |
| Home repair trades | 71 | #180 of 2,057 | 146 | 12.1 | $3.4M | 142 | 210 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 71 | #195 of 1,461 | 42 | 3.5 | $4M | 155 | 31 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 70 | #367 of 2,405 | 659 | 54.4 | $1M | 154 | 230 |
| Home inspectors | 69 | #62 of 415 | 5 | 0.4 | Index only | 187 | 9 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 69 | #235 of 1,327 | 31 | 2.6 | $4.1M | 132 | 26 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 69 | #245 of 1,771 | 97 | 8.0 | $2.6M | 156 | 220 |
| Veterinarians | 69 | #299 of 1,485 | 48 | 4.0 | $3.5M | 127 | 42 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 68 | #88 of 479 | 7 | 0.6 | $18M | 131 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 68 | #338 of 2,200 | 121 | 10.0 | $1.4M | 156 | 88 |
| Pet stores | 67 | #204 of 974 | 21 | 1.7 | $7.9M | 175 | 15 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 67 | #339 of 1,889 | 126 | 10.4 | $5.3M | 129 | 71 |
| Pizza | 67 | #385 of 2,090 | 78 | 6.4 | $8.6M | 170 | 302 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 67 | #469 of 2,405 | 1,111 | 91.8 | $606K | 164 | 602 |
| House cleaning | 66 | #146 of 847 | 26 | 2.1 | $9.8M | 153 | 89 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 66 | #497 of 2,222 | 134 | 11.1 | $5M | 165 | 302 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 64 | #544 of 2,087 | 165 | 13.6 | $2M | 159 | 98 |
| Gyms | 61 | #491 of 1,792 | 121 | 10.0 | $1.4M | 109 | 50 |
| Hair salons | 60 | #671 of 2,339 | 272 | 22.5 | $569K | 132 | 108 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 60 | #710 of 2,210 | 248 | 20.5 | $1.3M | 153 | 130 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 59 | #453 of 1,302 | 67 | 5.5 | $2.8M | 90 | 21 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 57 | #246 of 777 | 36 | 3.0 | $4.8M | 118 | 50 |
| Child care and preschools | 55 | #680 of 1,611 | 110 | 9.1 | $983K | 98 | 115 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #897 of 2,088 | 247 | 20.4 | $696K | 105 | 117 |
| Insurance agencies | 53 | #1,016 of 2,272 | 199 | 16.4 | $1.5M | 123 | 135 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 52 | #773 of 1,656 | 94 | 7.8 | $2M | 113 | 314 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 51 | #158 of 325 | 18 | 1.5 | $10.5M | 43 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 50 | #662 of 1,334 | 90 | 7.4 | $1.9M | 95 | 67 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #1,217 of 2,385 | 611 | 50.5 | $253K | 119 | 210 |
| Nail salons | 48 | #759 of 1,328 | 97 | 8.0 | $1.6M | 95 | 43 |
| Spas and skin care | 45 | #1,064 of 1,769 | 168 | 13.9 | $921K | 105 | 47 |
| Property management | 43 | #582 of 910 | 64 | 5.3 | Index only | 69 | 79 |
| Dry cleaners | 42 | #331 of 507 | 24 | 2.0 | $13.9M | 89 | 27 |
| Physical therapy | 39 | #1,021 of 1,422 | 120 | 9.9 | $1.6M | 66 | 66 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 38 | #1,709 of 2,176 | 590 | 48.7 | Index only | 76 | 171 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 37 | #1,817 of 2,394 | 1,399 | 115.6 | $136K | 89 | 649 |
| Real estate | 35 | #1,889 of 2,229 | 752 | 62.1 | Index only | 76 | 369 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 34 | #727 of 887 | 93 | 7.7 | Index only | 68 | 54 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 34 | #1,529 of 1,886 | 238 | 19.7 | $797K | 81 | 214 |
Household spending in Howard County
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 | $126.2M | $1,043 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $366.9M | $3,031 | 117 |
| Food away from home | $673.6M | $5,564 | 137 |
| Groceries | $914.6M | $7,555 | 120 |
| Personal care products and services | $154.8M | $1,278 | 127 |
| Child care and other personal services | $108.1M | $893 | 154 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $171.8M | $1,419 | 144 |
| Medical and dental services | $189.8M | $1,568 | 122 |
| Pets | $166M | $1,371 | 151 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $334.4M | $2,762 | 134 |
| Vehicle insurance | $308M | $2,544 | 130 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $502.5M | $4,150 | 138 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $254.1M | $2,099 | 148 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.5B | $20,322 | 122 |
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 Howard County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 339,183+1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 121,065
- Median age
- 40.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 251 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,340
- Median household income
- $149,763+23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $184,243
- Median home value
- $597,900
- Jobs located here
- 185,575
- Daytime population
- 363,145Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Howard County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Howard County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Maryland 8
- Baltimore city, MD573,243 people
- Baltimore County, MD850,796 people
- Anne Arundel County, MD598,166 people
- Montgomery County, MD1,065,949 people
- Prince George’s County, MD959,754 people
- Carroll County, MD175,321 people
- Frederick County, MD287,048 people
- Harford County, MD263,757 people
Questions
How fast is Howard County, MD growing?
Population estimates put Howard County at 339,183 people in 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 121,065 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Howard County, MD spend?
Households in Howard County spend about $2.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $914.6M on groceries and $673.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Howard County runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 154, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (109, still above the U.S.).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Howard County, MD?
Of the business types scored in Howard County, laundromats (86), pest control companies (82) and gas stations (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For laundromats, that ranks #25 of 785 scored counties.
How does Howard County, MD compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Howard County is $149,763, 86% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $597,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for urgent care and walk-in clinics (3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for convenience stores (55% 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 Howard County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Howard County. 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 Howard County?
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 Howard County. 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.