North Laurel, MD — City Data, Demographics & Statistics
Howard County · Maryland
City DNA
A unique fingerprint for North Laurel based on 8 key metrics — compared to averages.
Quick Stats
Population
25,201
2023 ACS
Median Income
$119,533
2023
Median Home Value
$442,800
2023
Median Rent
$1,913
2023
Median Age
35.7
Unemployment
2.7%
Cost of Living Index
182.0
100 = national avg
North Laurel is a city in Howard County, Maryland, with a population of 25,201 according to the 2023 American Community Survey. North Laurel is one of the communities in Maryland.
The median household income in North Laurel is $119,533, and the median home value is $442,800. The cost of living index is 182.0 (where 100 = national average), and the median rent is $1,913 per month. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, and the median age is 35.7 years.
People & Demographics
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Population
Total Population
25,201
Male
11,783
46.8%
Female
13,418
53.2%
Median Age
35.7
Education & Household
Bachelor's or Higher
36.9%
High School or Higher
46.9%
Foreign Born
28.4%
Veterans
4.5%
Married
42.3%
Avg Household Size
2.9
Marital Status by Age
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
0.723
Simpson's Index (0-1)
Largest Group
Black
35.2%
Foreign Born
28.4%
Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. People of any race can identify as Hispanic. This percentage overlaps with the racial categories above.
Hispanic/Latino
15.2%
3,828 people
Not Hispanic/Latino
84.8%
Hispanic/Latino Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Asian Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)American Indian & Alaska Native Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Languages Spoken
Total Speakers (5+)
23,016
English Only
63.3%
#1 Non-English Language
Spanish
2,684 speakers
Limited English
12.6%
Language Distribution
English Proficiency
Speaks English Very Well
87.4%
Limited English Proficiency
12.6%
Veterans & Military
Total Veterans
1,126
4.5% of population
Disability Rate
27.9%
314 with disability
Veteran Median Income
$94,872
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Period of Service
Veteran Age Distribution
Male Veterans
832
73.9%
Female Veterans
294
26.1%
Veteran vs Non-Veteran Income
Veteran Income
$94,872
Non-Veteran Income
$56,260
Difference
$38,612
68.6% higher
Disability Status
With Disability
314
Without Disability
812
Disability Rate
27.9%
Ancestry & Heritage
Total Reporting Ancestry
11,484
#1 Ancestry
Sub-Saharan African
10.2% (2,563)
#2 Ancestry
German
7.6% (1,923)
#3 Ancestry
Irish
5.6% (1,400)
Top 20 Ancestries
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Families & Households
Total Households
8,717
Family Households
6,236
71.5%
Married Couples
4,611
52.9%
Non-Family Households
2,481
28.5%
Single Mother Households
1,283
14.7%
Single Father Households
342
3.9%
Living Alone
1,715
19.7%
Children Under 18
Total Children
5,931
In Married Couple
4,446
75.0%
With Single Mother
1,341
22.6%
With Single Father
144
2.4%
Family Income
Median Family Income
$132,921
Married Couple Income
$158,798
Single Mother Income
$81,750
Single Father Income
$84,079
Avg Family Size
2.9
Avg Non-Family Size
2.5
Grandparents w/ Grandchildren
550
Grandparents Responsible
48
Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Income Overview
Median Household Income
$119,533
+63% vs national
Per Capita Income
$52,801
+42% vs national
Poverty Rate
3.3%
-76% vs national
Gini Index
0.3807
0 = perfect equality
Unemployment
2.7%
-48% vs national
SNAP Recipients
4.5%
of households
How North Laurel Compares
North Laurel vs Similar Cities
Compared to cities with 25,000 - 50,000 residents. North Laurel is highlighted.
Median Household Income
North Laurel, MD has a median household income of $119,533, making it the 2,788th highest median household income out of 28,123 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher median household income than 90% of all the cities we measured.
Per Capita Income
North Laurel, MD has a per capita income of $52,801, making it the 3,837th highest per capita income out of 28,123 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher per capita income than 86% of all the cities we measured.
Poverty Rate
North Laurel, MD has a poverty rate of 3.3%, making it the 26,076th highest poverty rate out of 31,262 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher poverty rate than 17% of all the cities we measured.
Unemployment Rate
North Laurel, MD has a unemployment rate of 2.7%, making it the 18,686th highest unemployment rate out of 31,012 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher unemployment rate than 40% of all the cities we measured.
Where Do You Stack Up?
Enter your household income to see how you compare to other households in North Laurel. The median household income here is $119,533.
Income Distribution
Employment Snapshot
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
-43% vs MD avg
Labor Force
14,215
Employed
13,422
How People Get to Work
Employment by Sector
Education & Workforce
Bachelor's Degree+
36.9%
of adults 25+
High School Diploma+
46.9%
of adults 25+
Median Age
35.7
Work from Home
21.4%
of workers
Top Occupations & Wages
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (2024)
Data represents the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area
Highest-Paying Job
Software Developers
Top Median Wage
$137.3K
per year
Occupations Tracked
20
Cost of Living
Overall Index
182.0
100 = national avg
+82.0 vs national average
Living Wage (1 Adult)
$80,063
per year
Living Wage (Family of 4)
$189,240
per year
Cost Index by Category
100 = national average. Higher = more expensive.
Fair Market Rent
Source: HUD
1 Bedroom
$1,511
per month
2 Bedroom
$1,857
per month
The median household income in North Laurel, MD is $119,533, which is 63.2% above the national average of $73,224. Per capita income is $52,801. The poverty rate of 3.3% is lower than the MD state average of 9.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.3807, where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, compared to the state average of 4.7%. The labor force is 14,215. 36.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. About 66.8% of workers drive alone to work. The overall cost of living index is 182.0, which is 82.0% above the national average. Housing costs are above the national average at an index of 222.0. A single adult needs to earn approximately $80,063 per year to cover basic expenses.
Housing & Real Estate
Market SnapshotRedfin — January 2026
Median Sale Price
$541,000
Median List Price
$499,990
Price Per Sq Ft
$243
Days on Market
58
Active Inventory
21
Months of Supply
1.8
Seller's market
Market CompetitivenessRedfin
Sold Above List
33.3%
Off Market in 2 Weeks
23.5%
Sale-to-List Ratio
100.1%
Seller's market
Price TrendsRedfin
Market ActivityRedfin
Homes Sold
12
New Listings
7
Pending Sales
17
Price Per Square FootRedfin
Median Sale $/SF
$243
Median List $/SF
$249
House Price IndexFHFA
How much have housing prices increased in North Laurel, MD? According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, home prices have risen 434.0% over the past 40 years. Over 20 years, prices grew 46.9%. The 10-year growth rate is 61.3%. Over the last 5 years, prices increased 38.3%. In the most recent 2-year period, the index rose 9.1%. The FHFA HPI tracks average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings of single-family properties with conforming mortgages. Because this is a metro-level index, it reflects the broader Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD housing market rather than North Laurel alone.
Metro area: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
North Laurel vs Similar CitiesCensus ACS / Redfin
Compared to cities with 25,000 - 50,000 residents. North Laurel is highlighted.
Median Home Value
North Laurel, MD has a median home value of $442,800, making it the 3,792nd highest median home value out of 27,993 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher median home value than 86% of all the cities we measured.
Median Rent
North Laurel, MD has a median rent of $1,913, making it the 1,919th highest median rent out of 22,337 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher median rent than 91% of all the cities we measured.
Median Price Per Sq Ft
North Laurel, MD has a price per square foot of $243, making it the 5,556th highest price per square foot out of 20,748 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher price per square foot than 73% of all the cities we measured.
Rent Burden
North Laurel, MD has a rent burden of 19.2%, making it the 9,954th highest rent burden out of 21,928 cities in our database. This means that North Laurel has a higher rent burden than 55% of all the cities we measured.
Census Housing DataU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023
Median Home Value
$442,800
Median Rent
$1,913
Total Housing Units
9,054
Vacancy Rate
3.7%
Owner Occupied
63.3%
Renter Occupied
36.7%
Median Property Tax
$5,333
per year
Monthly Cost (w/ Mortgage)
$2,201
Housing Types
Property TaxU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023
Median Property Tax
$5,333
per year
Effective Tax Rate
1.20%
of home value
Median Home Value
$442,800
Estimated Mean Tax
$5,544
The effective property tax rate is calculated by dividing the median annual property tax ($5,333) by the median home value ($442,800). In North Laurel, MD, this works out to an effective rate of 1.20%. This is above the national average of approximately 1.1%.
The current median sale price in North Laurel, MD is $541,000 according to Redfin data. Homes spend a median of 58 days on the market. 33.3% of homes sold above asking price. The market has 1.8 months of supply. The median price per square foot is $243. The median rent is $1,913 per month (Census ACS). About 63.3% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median year homes were built is 1993. There are 9,054 total housing units. Homeowners pay a median annual property tax of $5,333. The effective tax rate is 1.20%, above the national average.
Crime data is not yet available for North Laurel. The FBI UCR/NIBRS program does not cover all jurisdictions.
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
72.4
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
84.3
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
10.6
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
92.9
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
22
Public Assistance
$20.7M
Individual Assistance
$5.4M
Most Common Type
Flood
6 declarations
Public Assistance by Category
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm → | Winter Storm | Jan 2026 | — | — |
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | $302K | $5.0M |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Severe Storm and Flooding → | Flood | Jul 2018 | $10.3M | — |
| Severe Storm and Flooding → | Flood | Sep 2016 | $6.5M | — |
| Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm → | Snowstorm | Mar 2016 | $1.8M | — |
| Snowstorm → | Severe Storm | Apr 2014 | $716K | — |
| Hurricane Sandy → | Hurricane | Nov 2012 | $692K | — |
| Hurricane Sandy → | Hurricane | Oct 2012 | — | — |
| Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee → | Flood | Oct 2011 | — | — |
| Hurricane Irene → | Hurricane | Aug 2011 | $321K | — |
| Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms → | Snowstorm | May 2010 | $75K | — |
| Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm → | Snowstorm | Feb 2010 | — | — |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Hurricane | Sep 2005 | — | — |
| Hurricane Isabel → | Hurricane | Sep 2003 | — | $480K |
| Snow → | Severe Storm | Mar 2003 | — | — |
| Severe Winter Storm → | Severe Storm | Apr 2000 | — | — |
| Blizzard of 96 (severe Snow Storm) → | Snowstorm | Jan 1996 | — | — |
| Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm → | Snowstorm | Mar 1993 | — | — |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding → | Flood | Oct 1975 | — | — |
Showing 20 of 26 disasters
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
421
Total Claims Paid
$15,779,649
Avg Claim Payout
$37,481
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
10
Federal Funding
$845,602
Properties Protected
2
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
1.84
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts | 2 | $272,770 |
| 200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine | 2 | $280,029 |
| 91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan | 1 | $40,248 |
| 403.2: Stormwater Management - Diversions | 1 | $0 |
| 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan) | 1 | $33,600 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
North Laurel has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are winter weather, heat wave, strong wind. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (6 declarations). 421 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $20,681,543 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,447,669 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 10 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.
Health
Community Health
Source: CDC PLACES
Obesity Rate
33.0%
3.1pp below the national average
Depression Rate
17.9%
5.6pp below the national average
Diabetes Rate
10.0%
1.9pp below the national average
Uninsured Rate
7.6%
3.0pp below the national average
Health Scorecard
Higher scores indicate better health outcomes relative to the national average (50 = average)
Health Outcomes
Age-adjusted prevalence rates. Green bars indicate rates below the national average; red indicates above.
High Cholesterol
35.7%
Arthritis
20.7%
Cancer (excl. skin)
5.2%
Teeth Lost (65+)
6.1%
Health Risk Behaviors
Prevention & Screening
Green bars indicate rates above the national average (more preventive care); red indicates below.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Frequent Mental Distress
14.1%
14+ days in past month
Depression
17.9%
Loneliness
33.8%
Lack of Support
25.3%
Disability Prevalence
Any Disability
21.1%
Mobility
8.5%
Cognitive
10.7%
Hearing
3.6%
Vision
3.5%
Self-Care
2.6%
Independent Living
5.4%
Health-Related Social Needs
Prevalence of social risk factors affecting community health
North Laurel has an obesity rate of 33.0%, which is 3.1pp below the national average. The depression rate is 17.9%, 5.6pp below the national average. About 7.6% of adults lack health insurance. 79.3% of residents had an annual checkup in the past year.
Nearby Hospitals
Source: CMS Hospital Compare
Nearest Hospitals
5
With Emergency Services
4
Avg CMS Rating
2.8 / 5
Nearest Hospital
5.6 mi
Johns Hopkins Howard County Me...
| Hospital | Distance | Type | Rating | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center | 5.6 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 3/5 | Yes |
| Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center | 8.1 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 2/5 | Yes |
| Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Ctr, Inc | 11.3 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 2/5 | Yes |
| Spring Grove Hospital Center | 11.3 mi | Psychiatric | — | — |
| University Of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center | 11.7 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 4/5 | Yes |
Infrastructure
Commute Overview2023 ACS
Drive Alone
66.8%
-15% vs national
Public Transit
1.6%
+79% vs national
Work From Home
21.4%
+130% vs national
Carpool
8.5%
Walk
0.6%
How North Laurel's Commute ComparesCensus ACS 2023
How People Get to WorkCensus ACS 2023
Commute Mode BreakdownCensus ACS 2023
Commute data for North Laurel, MD covers travel times and transportation modes. 66.8% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 21.4% work from home, which is above the MD state average of 13.4%. Public transit is used by 1.6% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 8.5% of workers carpool.
Internet & Broadband Access
Source: Census ACSBroadband Access
96.9%
of households
Cable / Fiber / DSL
86.8%
of households
No Internet
1.6%
of households
Total Households
8,717
Internet Subscription Types
Device Ownership
Source: Census ACSHas Computer
99.2%
of households
Smartphone
95.5%
of households
Desktop / Laptop
91.7%
of households
Tablet
77.2%
of households
Percentage of households with each device type. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023 5-year estimates, tables B28001 & B28002).
Electricity Rates
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2024)Residential Rate
17.9¢
per kWh
-6% vs 25,000 - 50,000 avg
Commercial Rate
13.0¢
per kWh
-16% vs 25,000 - 50,000 avg
Industrial Rate
10.0¢
per kWh
-16% vs 25,000 - 50,000 avg
Avg Monthly Bill
$166
residential
+13% vs 25,000 - 50,000 avg
5% above the national average of 17.1¢/kWh
Residential electricity in Maryland averages 17.9¢ per kWh, compared to the national average of 17.1¢. The average monthly electric bill is $166. State-level averages from EIA Electric Sales & Revenue data (2024).
North Laurel vs Similar Cities
Source: EIA (2024)Comparing electricity rates with randomly selected cities of similar population (25,000 - 50,000). Each city represents its state's average rate.
Residential Rate (¢/kWh)
Commercial Rate (¢/kWh)
Industrial Rate (¢/kWh)
Average Monthly Bill
96.9% of households in North Laurel have broadband internet access. 86.8% have cable, fiber, or DSL service. 1.6% of households have no internet access. 5.7% use only a smartphone without a desktop or laptop.
Politics & Government
County-level data: Election results are reported at the county level. North Laurel is located in Howard County, MD. Results reflect all voters in the county, not just those in North Laurel.
Election Overview
Source: Howard County (2024)2024 Winner
Democrat
Dem Votes
124,764
69.1%
GOP Votes
49,425
27.4%
Total Votes
180,488
Margin
D+41.8%
Shift from 2020
R+2.5pp
vs prior election
Election History
Source: County-Level Election Results| Year | Dem Votes | GOP Votes | Total | Dem % | GOP % | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 124,764 | 49,425 | 180,488 | 69.1% | 27.4% | D+41.8 |
| 2020 | 129,433 | 48,390 | 183,062 | 70.7% | 26.4% | D+44.3 |
| 2016 | 93,808 | 44,792 | 146,401 | 64.1% | 30.6% | D+33.5 |
In the 2024 presidential election, Howard County recorded 180,488 total votes. Democrats won the county with 69.1% of the vote compared to 27.4% for Republicans, a margin of D+41.8%. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted R+2.5pp from the previous election. Since 2016, Howard County has shifted 8.3 percentage points toward Democrats.
ZIP Code Overview
Source: Census ACSZIP Codes
34
Total Population
693,397
Avg Median Income
-$58,697,681
Avg Home Value
-$77,956,214
ZIP Code Details
Source: Census ACS| ZIP Code | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Median Rent | Area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20701 | 749 | $81,763 | N/A | $2,147 | 2.2 |
| 20705 | 28,119 | $106,691 | $423,000 | $1,777 | 14.4 |
| 20707 | 36,549 | $104,093 | $411,200 | $1,880 | 12.6 |
| 20708 | 26,599 | $83,457 | $431,500 | $1,796 | 12.2 |
| 20720 | 26,243 | $162,976 | $545,800 | $3,162 | 14.7 |
| 20723 | 36,319 | $129,870 | $508,000 | $1,986 | 13.0 |
| 20724 | 18,669 | $109,530 | $392,500 | $2,199 | 18.8 |
| 20740 | 36,564 | $81,359 | $417,100 | $1,788 | 8.8 |
| 20755 | 10,477 | $102,886 | N/A | $2,380 | 10.5 |
| 20759 | 6,758 | $250,001 | $888,200 | $3,501 | 6.3 |
| 20763 | 2,320 | $119,083 | $406,300 | $2,140 | 1.1 |
| 20769 | 7,061 | $170,117 | $571,400 | $2,788 | 6.5 |
| 20770 | 28,181 | $84,125 | $249,400 | $1,823 | 7.3 |
| 20771 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.4 |
| 20777 | 3,046 | $218,808 | $808,700 | $2,893 | 7.5 |
| 20794 | 16,182 | $105,441 | $393,700 | $1,940 | 9.6 |
| 20861 | 3,020 | $176,094 | $956,200 | N/A | 5.2 |
| 20862 | 393 | $242,721 | $804,200 | N/A | 1.6 |
| 20866 | 16,499 | $134,682 | $434,400 | $2,203 | 7.0 |
| 20868 | 384 | $109,554 | $564,800 | N/A | 1.6 |
| 20904 | 57,244 | $93,322 | $533,500 | $1,893 | 13.7 |
| 20905 | 18,268 | $155,023 | $640,400 | $2,015 | 11.8 |
| 21029 | 13,783 | $250,001 | $904,700 | $3,501 | 16.9 |
| 21043 | 47,134 | $141,846 | $607,300 | $1,964 | 17.1 |
| 21044 | 44,775 | $132,924 | $541,100 | $2,096 | 11.9 |
| 21045 | 40,866 | $117,323 | $438,500 | $1,768 | 9.7 |
| 21046 | 15,433 | $126,549 | $469,000 | $2,099 | 7.8 |
| 21054 | 15,412 | $153,976 | $587,700 | $2,351 | 15.9 |
| 21075 | 37,146 | $133,321 | $439,400 | $2,108 | 13.9 |
| 21076 | 23,642 | $143,409 | $492,100 | $2,337 | 13.1 |
| 21077 | 137 | N/A | $425,000 | N/A | 0.4 |
| 21113 | 38,053 | $125,081 | $401,900 | $2,152 | 14.9 |
| 21144 | 37,372 | $132,820 | $468,400 | $1,958 | 16.5 |
| 21240 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4.5 |
North Laurel, MD has 34 ZIP codes with a combined population of 693,397. The average median household income across all ZIP codes is -$58,697,681. The average median home value is -$77,956,214. The average median monthly rent is -$117,645,216.
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