North Laurel is a community in Howard County, Maryland, home to about 25,563 people across 6.5 square miles. Its ZIP code is 20723.
Homes sold for a median of $255 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly North Laurel; also Scaggsville
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside North Laurel. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up North Laurel’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows North Laurel well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)10 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Baltimore, MD18 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA110 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of North Laurel; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
North Laurel had 25,379 residents in the 2020 census, up 24% since 2000.
It’s the 55th largest of 527 towns in Maryland by population.
Howard County grew from 16,715 residents in 1900 to 332,317 in 2020.
Howard County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 89°F in summer, and winter lows average 26°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Laurel 3 W, MD weather station (4 miles away).
185,946 jobs at 10,050 businesses in Howard County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
119 doctors and other health care providers list an office in North Laurel.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 11 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 3 |
| Dentists | 8 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 30 |
| Mental health providers | 54 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 5 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (16 nearby)
Grocery stores (6 nearby)
Pharmacies (3 nearby)
Libraries (2 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (2 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Howard County Public Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Ridge ElementaryLaurel | Pre-K–5 | 659 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Gorman Crossing ElementaryLaurel | Pre-K–5 | 750 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Laurel Woods ElementaryLaurel | Pre-K–5 | 625 | Public | 0.2 mi |
| Hammond ElementaryLaurel | K–5 | 763 | Public | 2.7 mi |
| Hammond MiddleLaurel | 6–8 | 604 | Public | 2.7 mi |
| Murray Hill MiddleLaurel | 6–8 | 616 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Julia Brown SchoolLaurel | Pre-K–3 | 49 | Nonsectarian | 0.8 mi |
| Phillips School - LaurelLaurel | 3–12 | 67 | Nonsectarian | 1.0 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around North Laurel? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Scaggsville.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.