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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Columbia, MD Housing Affordability Index

Columbia, Maryland has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 93.7 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 148th most affordable of 259 scored Maryland cities, compared with 89.4 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $497,400 home with 20% down, the Maryland average 30-year fixed rate of 7.27% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $2,719, or 25% of the city’s $131,490 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Columbia is updated every night from live Maryland mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Columbia MBR-HAI 93.7 Near National Average
Rank in Maryland 148 of 259 1 = most affordable
Maryland 89.4 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.27% Maryland lenders
Median home value $497,400 U.S. Census Bureau

Columbia is 4.4 points above the Maryland score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Maryland index

View Columbia Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Columbia

$2,719/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.27%
$116,500
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$131,490
Median Household Income
Maryland: $103,678
3.8x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Maryland: 4.1x
$2,280/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$5,985/yr
Median Property Tax
1.20% of median value
22.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
43.5%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Columbia, Maryland. The rate is the Maryland average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Columbia Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Columbia, Maryland score: 93.7 (Near National Average), ranked 148 of 259 Maryland cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/maryland/columbia”