Ellicott City, MD vs Fort Washington, MD

Ellicott City is moderately more affordable than Fort Washington, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Ellicott City scores 150 compared to 159 for Fort Washington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Washington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ellicott City is $2,001/month compared to $2,724/month in Fort Washington — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ellicott City has cheaper rent, Fort Washington actually has lower median home values ($464,300 vs $644,300).

Median household income in Ellicott City is $157,891 compared to $145,942 in Fort Washington (+8.2%). Ellicott City offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ellicott City spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, less than the 22.4% in Fort Washington.

Climate-wise, Fort Washington is notably warmer with an average of 59.3°F compared to 56.2°F in Ellicott City. Ellicott City receives more rainfall at 45" per year compared to 41.8" in Fort Washington.