Affordable & Low-Income Housing in Columbia, MD
30 affordable buildings in Columbia · 3 ZIP codes
Columbia, MD has 30 income-restricted buildings across 3 ZIP codes: 14 tax credit, 22 Section 8, and 5 senior. These lists don't show openings — call to ask about vacancies and waiting lists.
In Columbia
Chimneys of Cradlerock
6577-81 Quiet Hours, Columbia, MD 21045
200 units · 40 income-restricted · 1–2 BR
Forest Ridge Apartments
5890-5894 Stevens Forest Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
108 units · 98 income-restricted · 1–3 BR
Hickory Ridge Place
10799 Hickory Ridge Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
108 units · 1–3 BR · People with disabilities
Shalom Square
6220 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD 21045
50 units · Studio–1 BR · People with disabilities
Roslyn Rise Nine
10401 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
25 units · 1–4+ BR · People with disabilities
Howard Sheltered Homes
9770 Patuxent Woods Dr Ste 305, Columbia, MD 21046
21 units · 1 BR · People with disabilities
St. Matthew House
7261 Eden Brook Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
15 units · 1 BR · People with disabilities
Progressive Housing Partners
10381 Barcan Cir, Columbia, MD 21044
9 units · 3 BR · People with disabilities
Transitional Housing Resources
5701 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044
9 units · 1 BR · People with disabilities
Access Homes, Inc.
6171 Wicker Basket Court, Columbia, MD 21044
6 units · 1 BR · People with disabilities
Beaverbrook Homes
9824 Owen Brown Road, Columbia, MD 21045
6 units · Studio · People with disabilities
Huntington II T/a Columbia Commons
7630 Woodpark Ln, Columbia, MD 21046
200 units · 50 income-restricted
- Affordability period may have ended — call to confirm
Orchard Crossing Apts
Executive Park Dr, Columbia, MD 21045
187 units · 95 income-restricted · 1–2 BR
- Affordability period may have ended — call to confirm
Park View at Snowden River
8600 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21045
100 units
- Affordability period may have ended — call to confirm
Treeover Condominiums
6007 Majors Ln, Columbia, MD 21045
1 unit
- Affordability period may have ended — call to confirm
No buildings in Columbia match this filter.
Programs in Columbia
- Tax credit
- Section 8
- Seniors
ZIP codes in Columbia
Nearby cities
Rents and income limits in 21045
- Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
- $2,240/mo
- Income needed to pay it at 30% of income
- $89,600/yr
- Renters in 21045 paying 30% or more of income on rent
- 49%
Income limits (2026)
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area · median family income $134,000. Your household's yearly income before taxes must be at or below the limit.
| People | Extremely low 30% | Very low 50% | Low 80% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28,150 | $46,900 | $74,800 |
| 2 | $32,200 | $53,600 | $85,450 |
| 3 | $36,200 | $60,300 | $96,150 |
| 4 | $40,200 | $67,000 | $106,800 |
| 5 | $43,450 | $72,400 | $115,350 |
| 6 | $46,650 | $77,750 | $123,900 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $83,100 | $132,450 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $88,450 | $141,000 |
Section 8 vouchers: up to the 50% limit, and most go to households under 30%. Public housing: up to 80%. Tax-credit apartments: usually up to 60% of median income, between the 50% and 80% columns.
Fair market rents (2027)
HUD's estimate of rent plus utilities for a modest home. Housing authorities set Section 8 voucher limits from it.
| Size | 21045 | Wider area |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,700 | $1,523 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,810 | $1,625 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,240 | $2,006 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,800 | $2,509 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,110 | $2,789 |
Wider area = Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD. Two-bedroom fair market rents in 12 nearby ZIPs range from $1,920 (21228) to $2,930 (21076).
Census figures for 21045 (2020–2024 average): median rent $1,777. Median household income $118,563. 32% of homes are rented. 49% of renters pay 30% or more of their income on rent, and 19% pay half or more.
Census median rent is what renters here actually pay, including long-term leases. Fair market rent is HUD's estimate for a modest apartment available now.
Sources: HUD income limits FY2026; HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (Small Area FMR for ZIP figures); U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year 2020–2024. Each program and building can set its own limits — confirm with the property.
Estimate your Section 8 rent share
Project-based Section 8 is on the buildings above. A Housing Choice Voucher is different: you apply with the housing authority, then find a landlord who takes it. Your share of rent is based on income — not always 30%. The calculator uses 21045's fair market rent.
Estimate your Section 8 rent share for 21045Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Section 8 housing in Columbia, MD?
Yes — this directory lists income-restricted buildings in Columbia, MD, including project-based Section 8 apartments (the subsidy stays with the unit), public housing, tax-credit, and USDA rural rentals. Housing Choice Vouchers are different: you apply with the local housing authority and can use them at a private landlord. Estimate your voucher rent share with the Section 8 calculator.
Do affordable housing buildings in Columbia, MD have openings?
These lists for Columbia, MD don't show openings. Call the property (or the housing authority, for public housing) to ask about vacancies and waiting lists.
How do I apply for affordable housing in Columbia, MD?
Use the phone number on each building card in Columbia, MD. Public housing is run by the local housing authority — apply with them, not at the building. USDA rural rentals can also be found through USDA's property search.
What counts as affordable housing in Columbia, MD?
In Columbia, MD, this directory lists income-restricted rentals from HUD tax-credit (LIHTC) records, public housing, HUD-assisted buildings (including project-based Section 8, 202, and 811), and USDA Rural Development.
How many affordable housing buildings are in Columbia, MD?
This directory lists 30 income-restricted buildings in Columbia, MD. The list does not show vacancies — call each property or the housing authority to ask about openings and waiting lists.
Which ZIP codes in Columbia have affordable housing?
Income-restricted buildings in Columbia are listed in 21045 (14), 21044 (10), 21046 (6).
People Also Ask
How do I qualify for affordable housing in Columbia, MD?
Most income-restricted buildings in Columbia, MD serve households at or below 50% or 80% of area median income. HUD's 2026 very low-income (50%) limit for a 1-person household is $46,900, and $67,000 for a 4-person household. Public housing can go up to 80% ($74,800 for 1 person). Each building sets its own cap — call to confirm before you apply. Citizenship, household size, and local preferences can also apply.
What is the income limit for low-income housing in Columbia, MD?
For many programs in Columbia, MD, the 2026 HUD very low-income (50%) limit is $46,900 a year for 1 person and $67,000 for 4 people. The low-income (80%) limit is $74,800 for 1 person. Tax-credit buildings often use 60% of median income. Confirm with the property — they can be stricter.
How long is the waiting list for Section 8 in Columbia, MD?
There is no single waiting list for Columbia, MD. Public housing, project-based Section 8, and tax-credit buildings each keep their own list. Housing Choice Voucher lists at the housing authority open only sometimes and can stay closed for years. This directory does not show which lists are open — call the number on each card. Some public housing cards show HUD's reported wait in months.
What is the difference between Section 8 and public housing in Columbia, MD?
Public housing is owned by a housing authority — you apply with that agency, not at the building. Project-based Section 8 is a HUD contract on a private building; the subsidy stays with the apartment. A Housing Choice Voucher is different: you apply with the housing authority and can use it at a landlord who takes it. This page lists project-based Section 8, tax-credit apartments in Columbia, MD. Estimate voucher rent share with the Section 8 calculator.
How much rent do you pay for low-income housing in Columbia, MD?
In public housing and most Section 8 in Columbia, MD, tenants typically pay about 30% of adjusted income. HUD's 2027 fair market rent for a 2-bedroom near Columbia, MD is $2,240 a month (rent plus utilities for a modest unit). Tax-credit apartments use set rents below market, not always 30% of income. Call the building for the actual rent; this site is not a vacancy or price list.
Can I use a Section 8 voucher at affordable apartments in Columbia, MD?
A Housing Choice Voucher is not automatically accepted at every building in Columbia, MD. Project-based Section 8 units already have a subsidy on the apartment — you apply there, not with a tenant voucher. For a voucher, apply with the housing authority, then ask each landlord. Estimate your share with the Section 8 calculator.
Is there senior affordable housing in Columbia, MD?
Yes — this directory flags senior (often 62+) buildings in Columbia, MD. Use the Seniors filter on the list. Age rules vary; call to confirm.
Sources: HUD LIHTC database, 2024 (released Apr 2026); HUD Multifamily Assisted Properties, Oct 2026. Not affiliated with HUD or USDA. Details can be out of date — confirm with the property before applying.
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