As of 2026 the population of Howard County is 30,412. The population is expected to shrink to 29,434 by 2031 - a growth rate of -0.65%.
The median age of Howard County residents is 38.
The diversity index of Howard County is 75.5, meaning that there is a 76% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Howard County is $105,265 and projected to be $117,953 in 2031. Per capita income is $40,054, projected to be $45,644 in 2031. 4.13% of households – 1,255 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,135,748 and the average disposable income is $83,346.
There are 13,923 housing units in Howard County; 7,501 are owner-occupied, 3,895 are rented, and 2,527 are vacant. The average home value is $219,417, with 1,067 homes built in 2010 or later, and 901 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 1,145 businesses in Howard County, employing 13,265 workers and pulling from a labor force of 13,314 age 16 and above. 2,662 workers commute into Howard County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
10,591 residents both live and work in/around Howard County. The average travel time is 21.7 minutes. 4.91% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 3.36% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 10,535 drive alone, 2,131 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 242 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 406 residents work from home.
7,093 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 2,042 have associates degrees, 2,467 have bachelor’s degrees, and 1,135 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
