Best Life Index › States › Maryland › Cities › Ellicott City

Maryland city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Ellicott City?

What it costs to live in Ellicott City, and how it compares with other Maryland cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

52

40th best value in Maryland

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Maryland cities.

Overall livability

66

21st overall in Maryland

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Ellicott City is home to about 74,432 people. A typical home runs $564,900 and a household earns around $136,200, a price-to-income ratio of 4.2. Among Maryland's largest cities, it ranks 40th for value and 21st overall.

Ellicott City at a glance

Median home price

$564,900

75th in MD of 94

Median rent

$1,727/mo

Median household income

$136,200

Home price to income

4.2x

Unemployment

3.5%

17th in MD of 94

School rating

10/10

17th in MD of 94

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MD of 94

Walk score

8/100

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‹ See all top Maryland cities ranked  ยท  Maryland state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Maryland only. Updated 2026.