The typical owner-occupied home in Columbia is worth about $497,400, 18% above the Maryland median of $419,900 and 50% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,082 a year in property taxes, about 1.22% of their home's value, higher than the Maryland rate of 0.97%. The median household earns $131,490 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (4.1 times for Maryland). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 72% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Columbia at a glance
| Columbia | Maryland | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $497,400 | $419,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,082 | $4,093 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.22% | 0.97% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $131,490 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 72% | 71% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,713 | $2,347 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.0% | 20.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,042 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.9% | 30.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1983 | 1979 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.9% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 104,338 | 6,206,011 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Columbia
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Columbia home of $497,400 with 20% down costs about $3,390 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,218, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $145,276 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Columbia household income of $131,490; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $450,000.
The median rent here is $2,042 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,348 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $99,480 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $397,920 |
| Principal and interest | $2,677 |
| Property taxes (1.22% a year) | $506 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $207 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,390 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $17,409 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $488,391 |
| Principal and interest | $3,285 |
| Property taxes (1.22% a year) | $506 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $207 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $220 |
| Total per month | $4,218 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Columbia
What is the median home value in Columbia?
About $497,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Columbia?
Homeowners pay a median $6,082 a year, which is about 1.22% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Columbia?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,390 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $145,276 a year.
More about Columbia
- Mortgage Refinance in Columbia
- Debt Relief in Columbia
- Home Equity Loans in Columbia
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data