ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced that Columbia has been named Maryland’s “Best Cities to Raise a Family in America” and “Best Cities to Live in America” for 2024 by Niche.
With a population of more than 106,000, Columbia scored an overall Niche grade of A+. Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to analyze data and assess key factors that are meaningful for families. Key factors include quality of local schools, safety, affordability, diversity, health and fitness, cost of living, outdoor activities, and access to family amenities, such as parks, libraries and cultural activities.
Home to a multicultural population, a thriving arts and cultural scene, a plethora of parks, trails, and lakes, and a variety of places to go and things to do for families and young adults, it’s no wonder that Columbia has once again being recognized for all it offers. This continued recognition showcases our ongoing investment and efforts to ensure we are offering the best the quality of life for all. As we continue to build a diverse and inclusive community, Columbia and Howard County as a whole, continue to thrive.
Niche helps connects people to their future schools, neighborhoods and workplaces with its in-depth profiles, reviews and ratings, and search and data tools.
This latest recognition joins Columbia’s long list of accolades, which, within the last year has included Columbia being named one of the Happiest Cities in America, Safest Cities in America, Best Places to Raise a Family, Best Places to Live in the U.S. and Best City for Summer Jobs.