Who moves to Columbia, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Howard County, MD, home of Columbia, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 19,447from other US counties
- Moved out
- 20,502to other US counties
- Net
- −1,055more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 296tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Baltimore County, MD | 2,404 |
| Prince George's County, MD | 2,399 |
| Anne Arundel County, MD (Annapolis) | 2,358 |
| Montgomery County, MD (Silver Spring) | 2,311 |
| Baltimore city, MD (Baltimore) | 1,218 |
| Carroll County, MD | 405 |
| Fairfax County, VA (Reston) | 360 |
| District of Columbia, DC (Washington) | 309 |
| Frederick County, MD (Frederick) | 302 |
| Harford County, MD | 169 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 110 |
| Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia) | 106 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County, MD (Annapolis) | 2,671 |
| Baltimore County, MD | 2,216 |
| Prince George's County, MD | 1,476 |
| Montgomery County, MD (Silver Spring) | 1,342 |
| Baltimore city, MD (Baltimore) | 1,187 |
| Carroll County, MD | 833 |
| Frederick County, MD (Frederick) | 778 |
| Fairfax County, VA (Reston) | 378 |
| District of Columbia, DC (Washington) | 266 |
| Sussex County, DE | 212 |
| Loudoun County, VA | 195 |
| Harford County, MD | 194 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 11,953 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Maryland and 7,494 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 110 |
| Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia) | 106 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 105 |
| Kings County, NY | 88 |
| Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale) | 84 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 77 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 76 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 70 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 117 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 115 |
| Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale) | 107 |
| New York County, NY | 106 |
| Palm Beach County, FL (West Palm Beach) | 103 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 98 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 98 |
| Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia) | 92 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Columbia come from?
Most people moving into Howard County, MD come from nearby counties, led by Baltimore County, MD (2,404 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Los Angeles County, CA.
Where do people leaving Columbia move to?
The top destination is Anne Arundel County, MD (2,671 people). Farther away, the most popular is Wake County, NC.
Are more people moving to Columbia or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 19,447 people moved into Howard County, MD from elsewhere in the US and 20,502 moved out, a net loss of 1,055 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Columbia with any city it trades people with, like Columbia vs Los Angeles, Columbia vs Philadelphia, Columbia vs Chicago, Columbia vs Fort Lauderdale.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Columbia.