They both have their own appeals and things in between. Ellicott city has the historic old ec and the many nature hiking paths around it. It is also the most cultural diverse area within Howard county, from Asian markets and more as you drive up towards Catonsville.

Columbia has the mall and merryweather area which is known for Concerts, seasonal drive through events such as the Christmas symphony lights, and the Toby theatre. There are plenty of different hiking trails and nature reserves, all throughout. There’s other communities you might like around Columbia as well, such as maple lawn, Fulton, which in my experience has a great community that interacts with each other through the many restaurants and retail buildings within the area. Next to that and still around the Columbia area is Clarksville, one of the more expensive areas around river hill. Plenty of modern homes surrounded by nature and farmland, and town areas.