NEIGHBORSCORE

Columbia, Maryland · ZIP 21045

Columbia — ZIP 21045

Crime DataSchools

Columbia (21045) scores 52/100 — Fair for Columbia. Safety: Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier. Schools: Mid-range proficiency and grade-band coverage. A premium market - pricier than most of the state. The typical home value here is $491K.

52OUT OF 100

Overall NeighborScore

D+Fair

Tap a tab to compare 21045 against its city, state, or the nation.

Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier.

Safety index45/100
Violent crime share7%
Property crime share93%

Mid-range proficiency and grade-band coverage.

School index59/100
Avg math proficiency28%
Avg reading proficiency45%
Schools nearby11

A premium market - pricier than most of the state.

Affordability index47/100
Typical home value$491K
Median rent$2,395/mo

How this score is calculated: the NeighborScore composite weights crime 53% and schools 47%, each normalized to the local area. Home affordability is shown for context and is not factored into the overall score. Sources & methodology →

Last refreshed — Schools: Aug 2026 · Real estate: Aug 2026 · Demographics: Jun 2026

Nearby Neighborhoods

Not the right fit? See how adjacent ZIPs score — tap to jump over.

Columbia, MarylandColumbiaZIP 21044
52= even vs here
Columbia, MarylandColumbiaZIP 21046
48▼4 vs here
Ellicott City, MarylandEllicott CityZIP 21043
58▲6 vs here
Elkridge, MarylandElkridgeZIP 21075
47▼5 vs here

More ZIPs in Columbia

Columbia, MarylandColumbiaZIP 21044
52= even vs here
Columbia, MarylandColumbiaZIP 21046
48▼4 vs here

Real Estate Snapshot

Typical Home Value

$491K

Median Rent

$2,395/mo

Days on Market

—

Sale-to-List

—

Typical Home Value — 23 Months

Median Rent — 24 Months

Crime Overview

Total Incidents

5,463

Violent Crime

402

Property Crime

5,061

Crime statistics for this area are estimated from FBI-reported county-level data for Howard County, Maryland (2025). This ZIP does not yet have city-specific monthly crime data, so figures reflect the entire county rather than this ZIP alone.

Full Crime Report →

Nearby Schools

Grades
Waterloo ElementaryPK–05666
44%
68%
Stevens Forest ElementaryPK–05314
42%
47%
Phelps Luck ElementaryPK–05681
33%
39%
Thunder Hill ElementaryKG–05459
31%
41%
Talbott Springs ElementaryPK–05461
27%
36%
Jeffers Hill ElementaryPK–05406
27%
47%
Oakland Mills High09–121,413
26%
67%
Long Reach High09–121,334
25%
46%
Cradlerock ElementaryPK–05453
23%
32%
Oakland Mills Middle06–08415
16%
39%
Lake Elkhorn Middle06–08569
11%
32%

Directory and latest enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data (SY 2024–25 where reported). Proficiency: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts SY 2021–22; state standards are not directly comparable.

Full School Report →

Demographics

Population

40,866

Median Income

$119K

Homeownership

68%

Median Age

39.6 yrs

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2024).

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

ZIP 21045 has a reported-crime score of 45/100. A higher score represents a lower reported-crime rate under the best available data tier for this ZIP; it is not a guarantee of safety. Review the crime report and current local police data before making a decision.
ZIP 21045 has a school score of 59/100. The index combines reported SY 2021–22 math and reading proficiency with grade-band coverage. Nearby or county-level estimates may be used where ZIP-level reporting is sparse, and state assessment standards are not directly comparable.
The latest home value or sale-price figure available for ZIP 21045 is approximately $491K. The profile identifies the underlying source; Zillow ZHVI is a typical home value measure, while Redfin data is a median sale-price measure. These are different metrics and may lag current listings.
ZIP 21045 in Columbia has an overall NeighborScore of 52/100. It combines the crime score (53%) and school score (47%); affordability is context only. Use the component data and its coverage notes rather than treating the composite as a complete measure of livability.