How many renters in Ellicott City, MD pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Ellicott City, MD, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

53.5% (±6.8 points) of renting households in Ellicott City, MD spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

45.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 32.3% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 53.5% (±6.8 points)
Paying 35% or more: 45.9% (±5.6 points)
Median share of income: 32.3% (±3.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Ellicott City

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Ellicott City	Howard County	Maryland	United States
Less than 15%	8.6% (±2.8 points)	11.5%	11.5%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	16.1% (±3.8 points)	14.3%	12.0%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	10.6% (±4.1 points)	14.4%	13.1%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.2% (±4.6 points)	12.0%	11.9%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	7.6% (±3.8 points)	9.0%	9.2%	9.2%
35% or more	45.9% (±5.6 points)	38.7%	42.3%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Ellicott City against Howard County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Ellicott City	Howard County	Maryland	United States
Paying 30% or more	53.5% (±6.8 points)	47.7% (±2.8 points)	51.5% (±0.7 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	45.9% (±5.6 points)	38.7% (±2.4 points)	42.3% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	32.3% (±3.5 points)	29.0% (±1.2 points)	30.8% (±0.4 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$80,056 (±$12,898)	$86,111 (±$4,394)	$62,703 (±$866)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,061 (±$94)	$2,099 (±$33)	$1,705 (±$8)	$1,413

In Ellicott City, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Howard County (47.7%).

It is not measurably different from Maryland (51.5%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Howard County, Ellicott City ranks 1 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 149 of 383.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Ellicott City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ellicott City
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Ellicott City	—	53.5% (±6.8 points)	—
Catonsville	5.0 mi	53.5% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Woodlawn (Baltimore County)	5.0 mi	48.6% (±7.9 points)	Not measurably different
Columbia	5.4 mi	44.7% (±4.0 points)	Lower
Ilchester	5.7 mi	49.0% (±11.4 points)	Not measurably different
Milford Mill	6.0 mi	55.6% (±8.8 points)	Not measurably different
Randallstown	6.8 mi	67.2% (±10.1 points)	Higher
Elkridge	7.5 mi	51.9% (±10.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lochearn	7.5 mi	61.9% (±12.2 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Columbia, MD (44.7%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Randallstown, MD (67.2%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Howard County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ellicott City	53.5% (±6.8 points)
2	Elkridge	51.9% (±10.3 points)
3	Ilchester	49.0% (±11.4 points)
4	Fulton	47.7% (±27.9 points)
5	Columbia	44.7% (±4.0 points)
6	Savage	43.5% (±18.7 points)
7	North Laurel	39.1% (±10.0 points)

Showing 7 of 8 places in Howard County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Ellicott City is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Ellicott City

Are renters in Ellicott City rent-burdened?

53.5% of renting households in Ellicott City pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Ellicott City spend on rent?

The median renting household in Ellicott City, MD spends 32.3% (±3.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Ellicott City CDP, Maryland (place:26000, in state:24).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.