Population 61,801 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Towson
Household size in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.65 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Towson are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.37 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 11 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.3 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.0 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.7 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Towson is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has edged down from 37.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Towson: 6.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Towson has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Maryland cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Towson
Renters in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7% | 32.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.1% | 33.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.2% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.4% | 33.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Towson than nationally: 42.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among owners, 37.8% have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the south. The renter share is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 9.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Towson is close to the national rate: 9.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Baltimore area overall (7.2%). Towson has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Maryland cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Towson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,289 | $1,179 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,382 | $1,293 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,547 | $1,477 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,747 | $1,778 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$458 | +$599 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Towson costs $1,747 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $458 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Towson
Bachelor's degrees in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.3% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.6% | 37.3% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.5% | 40.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.9% | 44.1% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Towson: 64.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 9.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 23 of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.7% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 91.1% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 92.1% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Towson: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Towson
| Period | Towson | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Towson is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Towson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towson | 2.27 | 37.0 | 6.7% | 42.4% | 9.1% | 1969 | $1,747 | 64.9% | 95.7% | 5.1% |
| Lutherville | 2.34 | 48.7 | 8.3% | 17.4% | 6.5% | 1964 | $1,806 | 66.3% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Parkville | 2.49 | 38.6 | 14.4% | 37.8% | 8.1% | 1957 | $1,574 | 32.6% | 92.6% | 4.3% |
| Timonium | 2.60 | 46.5 | 8.1% | 21.9% | 5.6% | 1965 | $2,328 | 66.2% | 95.7% | 3.6% |
| Mays Chapel | 2.66 | 42.9 | 5.0% | 18.4% | 5.5% | 1980 | $1,803 | 74.0% | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| Carney | 2.45 | 42.5 | 10.8% | 37.4% | 7.0% | 1975 | $1,742 | 40.0% | 90.5% | 2.5% |
| Lutherville-Timonium | 2.40 | 48.6 | 5.8% | 26.5% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,968 | 66.3% | 94.9% | 6.8% |
| Overlea | 2.53 | 38.5 | 12.6% | 23.7% | 7.2% | 1963 | $1,369 | 35.1% | 92.2% | 4.6% |
| Baltimore area | 2.59 | 40.3 | 11.5% | 33.1% | 7.2% | 1975 | $1,778 | 44.1% | 92.1% | 4.8% |
| Pikesville | 2.60 | 44.0 | 7.9% | 36.0% | 5.0% | 1976 | $1,697 | 56.3% | 95.2% | 5.5% |
| Cockeysville | 2.41 | 40.4 | 8.3% | 54.0% | 6.2% | 1981 | $1,736 | 55.2% | 92.8% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Manhattan, KS · Woodland, CA · Toa Baja, PR · Taylor, MI · Tamiami, FL · Skokie, IL · San Clemente, CA · Rowlett, TX · Rocky Mount, NC · Reston, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Towson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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