Which has more people, Howard County, MD or Montgomery County, MD?

Howard County, MD has a population of 340,571 (221st of 3,094 US counties) and Montgomery County, MD has 1,076,119 (45th of 3,094).

How do Howard County, MD and Montgomery County, MD compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Howard County, MD $149,763 (5th of 3,093), Montgomery County, MD $132,450 (25th of 3,093) among US counties. Howard County, MD ranks better.

How do Howard County, MD and Montgomery County, MD compare on Poverty Rate (%)?

Poverty Rate (%): Howard County, MD 5.23% (66th of 3,094), Montgomery County, MD 7.45% (269th of 3,094) among US counties. Howard County, MD ranks better.

Where does Howard County, MD beat Montgomery County, MD most clearly?

Howard County, MD ranks far ahead on Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 79.3% vs 75.4%; Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 6% vs 9.1%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): 28.5 vs 31.9.

Where does Montgomery County, MD beat Howard County, MD most clearly?

Montgomery County, MD ranks far ahead on Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 33.9% vs 37.4%; Adults with Obesity (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 25.9% vs 29.6%; Heating Degree Days per Year (Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)): 4,628 vs 4,735.

Howard County, MD vs Montgomery County, MD

Howard County, MD comes out ahead of Montgomery County, MD on 18 of 31 statistics where one end is better, to 11 with 2 ties. Howard County, MD leads on Health and Economics.

31 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 2 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Howard County, MD

Wins: 18
Avg. percentile: 73
Categories led: 2

Montgomery County, MD

Wins: 11
Avg. percentile: 69
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US counties.

Statistic	Howard County, MD	Montgomery County, MD
Population	340,571 221st of 3,094	1,076,119 45th of 3,094
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$149,763 5th of 3,093	$132,450 25th of 3,093
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	5.23% 66th of 3,094	7.45% 269th of 3,094
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	3.5% tied 883rd of 3,094	3.7% tied 1,127th of 3,094
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	37.4% tied 1,474th of 3,094	33.9% tied 665th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	28.5 2,409th of 3,094	31.9 2,799th of 3,094
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	4,735 1,501st of 3,050	4,628 tied 1,434th of 3,050
Median Air Quality IndexAir Quality by County (EPA)	33 tied 147th of 960	39 tied 410th of 960

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

HealthHoward County, MD · 11 statistics
EconomicsHoward County, MD · 9 statistics

Biggest differences

The 22 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 1,547 US counties.

Statistic	Howard County, MD	Montgomery County, MD
Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	79.3% tied 215th of 2,916	75.4% tied 1,433rd of 2,916
Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	6% tied 38th of 2,916	9.1% tied 923rd of 2,916
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	37.4% tied 1,474th of 3,094	33.9% tied 665th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	28.5 2,409th of 3,094	31.9 2,799th of 3,094
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	3.5% tied 883rd of 3,094	3.7% tied 1,127th of 3,094
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	5.23% 66th of 3,094	7.45% 269th of 3,094
Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	11.8% tied 12th of 2,916	14.5% tied 157th of 2,916
Adults with Obesity (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	29.6% tied 175th of 2,916	25.9% tied 64th of 2,916
Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	15.8% tied 35th of 2,916	18.3% tied 109th of 2,916
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	4,735 1,501st of 3,050	4,628 tied 1,434th of 3,050
Adults with Diabetes (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	9.1% tied 466th of 2,916	9.2% tied 512th of 2,916
Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,029 1,391st of 3,050	1,069 tied 1,440th of 3,050
Adults with Depression (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	18.2% tied 105th of 2,916	17.7% tied 71st of 2,916
Median IncomePoorest Counties	$149,763 5th of 2,000	$132,450 25th of 2,000
Adults Who Binge Drink (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	14.5% tied 242nd of 2,916	14.6% tied 270th of 2,916
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$149,763 5th of 3,093	$132,450 25th of 3,093
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	96.6% 11th of 3,094	95.7% 29th of 3,094
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$597,900 3,008th of 3,092	$640,300 3,025th of 3,092
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	64.5% 9th of 3,094	60.6% 23rd of 3,094
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$2,099 3,059th of 3,090	$2,068 3,052nd of 3,090
Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	13.0% tied 3rd of 2,916	12.8% 2nd of 2,916
Adults Who Smoke (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	7.3% tied 8th of 2,916	7.2% 7th of 2,916

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Howard County, MD or Montgomery County, MD?: Howard County, MD comes out ahead of Montgomery County, MD on 18 of 31 statistics where one end is better, to 11 with 2 ties. Howard County, MD leads on Health and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Howard County, MD or Montgomery County, MD?: Howard County, MD has a population of 340,571 (221st of 3,094 US counties) and Montgomery County, MD has 1,076,119 (45th of 3,094).
How do Howard County, MD and Montgomery County, MD compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Howard County, MD $149,763 (5th of 3,093), Montgomery County, MD $132,450 (25th of 3,093) among US counties. Howard County, MD ranks better.
How do Howard County, MD and Montgomery County, MD compare on Poverty Rate (%)?: Poverty Rate (%): Howard County, MD 5.23% (66th of 3,094), Montgomery County, MD 7.45% (269th of 3,094) among US counties. Howard County, MD ranks better.
Where does Howard County, MD beat Montgomery County, MD most clearly?: Howard County, MD ranks far ahead on Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 79.3% vs 75.4%; Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 6% vs 9.1%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): 28.5 vs 31.9.
Where does Montgomery County, MD beat Howard County, MD most clearly?: Montgomery County, MD ranks far ahead on Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 33.9% vs 37.4%; Adults with Obesity (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 25.9% vs 29.6%; Heating Degree Days per Year (Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)): 4,628 vs 4,735.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Howard County, MD or Montgomery County, MD.

All US counties matchups