The 10 Best Places To Live In Maryland (MD)

If you’re looking to move to Maryland, there are a lot of locales to consider. Buying a house in Maryland is a big decision that comes with multiple factors to weigh. You need to balance location, affordability, opportunity and the culture that makes the state unique. Read on to learn the best places to live in Maryland and the features that make them so great.

Is Maryland A Good Place To Live?

Maryland has a lot of things going for it. Its great location by the Chesapeake Bay and its history compel many people to visit and move there. There are many relevant points to consider when buying a house and deciding where to live in Maryland.

• Cost of living: The cost of living in Maryland is slightly higher than the national average. If you’re moving from somewhere more affordable, this could affect your quality of life. Still, Maryland’s cheaper on average than nearby Washington, D.C.
• Career opportunities: Maryland has a solid economy with opportunities in health care, technology, tourism and agriculture.
• History: Maryland is steeped in American history as one of the original 13 colonies. It’s close to Washington, D.C. and the Civil War’s Battle of Antietam was fought there.
• Education: Maryland scores high in education as one of the better states for public education. It also has one of the higher four-year college graduation rates in the country.
• Variety of culture: From Baltimore to small towns on the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland has something for everyone in terms of culture and lifestyle.

10 Best Places To Live In Maryland

Let’s get into the Maryland housing market. Here are the 10 best places to live in Maryland and why.

1. Bethesda, MD

• Population: 65,092
• Median Household Income: $250,000
• Median Home Sold Price: $1,127,500
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $2,208
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 19.2
• Home Affordability Index: 1.05

Just outside of Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland takes our top spot of places to live in Maryland. The town’s urban feel comes with plenty of restaurants, parks, coffee shops and bars. In fact, it’s considered by many to be one of the best places in Maryland for young adults. However, the town does come with high housing costs because it is so popular.

Do your research. Check out homes for sale in Bethesda and Bethesda housing market trends.

2. Ellicott City, MD

• Population: 73,272
• Median Household Income: $180,300
• Median Home Sold Price: $641,416
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,727
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 19.2
• Home Affordability Index: 1.33

Ellicott City, Maryland is one of the best places to live in Maryland for families. With its small-town feel, Ellicott City is a short drive to downtown Baltimore. So, you get the benefits of a charming town with the big city nearby. The nearby Patapsco River and Patapsco Valley State Park offer plenty of outdoor recreation. Plus, the town is known as one of the most haunted places in the country, which brings in a lot of tourism.

See why many people are moving to Ellicott City. Check out homes for sale in Ellicott City and Ellicott housing market trends.

3. Havre de Grace, MD

• Population: 13,808
• Median Household Income: $112,412
• Median Home Sold Price: $375,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,113
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 20.2
• Home Affordability Index: 1.42

Havre de Grace, Maryland is a small city on the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay. Its name means “Harbor of Grace” in French. The town’s been around since 1785, and its location and history make it a popular spot for tourism and recreation. While it may not have big city appeal, Havre de Grace is perfect for those looking for an idyllic small town on the water.

Look into homes for sale in Havre de Grace and Havre de Grace housing market trends.

4. Towson, MD

• Population: 57,542
• Median Household Income: $144,970
• Median Home Sold Price: $405,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,550
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 17.8
• Home Affordability Index: 1.69

North of Baltimore, Towson, Maryland has some of the lowest crime rates in the state. The town features many popular shopping centers, like Towson Place. It’s also the home of Towson University – the second-largest university in the state, behind the University System of Maryland. The town is also incredibly connected, with many options for transportation, including light rail service to downtown Baltimore and the Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

Check out homes for sale in Towson and Towson housing market trends.

5. Silver Spring, MD

• Population: 81,069
• Median Household Income: $161,190
• Median Home Sold Price: $599,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,736
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 18.8
• Home Affordability Index: 1.27

Silver Spring, Maryland is another best place to live in Maryland for young adults. Situated on the northern tip of Washington, D.C., it has an urban feel, with many buildings designated as mixed use. So, people can live, work and be entertained all within the area. With film festivals, live music and a strong economy, there’s a lot to like about Silver Spring.

Check out homes for sale in Silver Spring and Silver Spring housing market trends.

6. Severna Park, MD

• Population: 38,729
• Median Household Income: $172,458
• Median Home Sold Price: $626,566
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,467
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 19.2
• Home Affordability Index: 1.30

Severna Park, Maryland is a popular city for those commuting to nearby Annapolis or Baltimore. It’s only 35 miles from Washington, D.C. as well. It’s great for those who love the outdoors, with nearby trails, rivers and parks. The Kinder Farm Park, for instance, offers 288 acres of a once-functioning farm, now complete with a museum and petting zoo.

Check out homes for sale in Severna Park and Severna Park housing market trends.

7. Glen Burnie, MD

• Population: 69,649
• Median Household Income: $104,663
• Median Home Sold Price: $355,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,406
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 20.3
• Home Affordability Index: 1.39

Just northwest of Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Maryland is another popular spot for Baltimore commuters. This suburb is right next to the Bethesda/Washington International Airport, making travel more convenient. Its proximity to the Patapsco River and other natural environments also makes it a good in-between point between the city and recreation.

Check out homes for sale in Glen Burnie and Glen Burnie housing market trends.

8. Easton, MD

• Population: 16,589
• Median Household Income: $97,631
• Median Home Sold Price: $366,500
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,127
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 21.4
• Home Affordability Index: 1.26

Easton, Maryland is a small town and the county seat of Talbot County on the Delmarva Peninsula. It’s known as a great vacation town, just on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay. With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, it’s a great place to buy a house if you’re interested in a cute small town.

Check out homes for sale in Easton and Easton housing market trends.

9. Aberdeen, MD

• Population: 15,904
• Median Household Income: $91,042
• Median Home Sold Price: $280,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,115
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 20.5
• Home Affordability Index: 1.54

Aberdeen, Maryland is the smallest town on this list (population-wise) and has the cheapest median home sold price. Northeast of Baltimore, Aberdeen is adjacent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army facility. Like its neighbor, Havre de Grace, its closeness to water and nature make it a popular spot for many.

Check out homes for sale in Aberdeen and Aberdeen housing market trends.

10. Catonsville, MD

• Population: 41,592
• Median Household Income: $125,700
• Median Home Sold Price: $383,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,506
• Housing Cost-To-Income Ratio: 18.0
• Home Affordability Index: 1.55

Catonsville, Maryland is a Baltimore suburb, but also a city of its own. It contains a large portion of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), giving it a college-town feel. On top of that, it has plenty to offer in terms of arts and culture, especially for a city of its size. With Baltimore just over the border, residents have easy access to all the city offers.

Check out homes for sale in Catonsville and Catonsville housing market trends.

Other Popular Places To Live In Maryland

There are many more great places to live in Maryland. It’s truly a state where you can find what you need to match your lifestyle. While the following cities didn’t make our top 10, they are great cities to consider when weighing your options to relocate to Maryland.

1. Columbia, MD

• Population: 105,212
• Median Household Income: $144,748
• Median Home Sold Price: $430,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,795

Columbia, Maryland is a planned community southwest of Baltimore. Originally opened in 1967, the community sought to redesign how suburbs were planned and built. This put a major emphasis on removing inconvenience, improving quality of life and promoting diversity. The community has several distinct neighborhoods, such as Hobbit’s Glen, as well as music venues and parks.

Check out homes for sale in Columbia and Columbia housing market trends.

2. Rockville, MD

• Population: 68,155
• Median Household Income: $152,386
• Median Home Sold Price: $620,000
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,994

Rockville, Maryland is a popular city near Washington, D.C. Along with its neighbor, Bethesda, it’s part of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor, offering many tech and government jobs. Since 2000, the city has grown by almost 40%, with many people moving here and falling in love with its vibrant downtown, incredible schools and low crime rates.

Check out homes for sale in Rockville and Rockville housing market trends.

3. Baltimore, MD

• Population: 576,498
• Median Household Income: $86,340
• Median Home Sold Price: $219,671
• Median Monthly Rental Price: $1,146

Baltimore is Maryland’s most populous city with a population of around 580,000 and a total metro population of around 2.8 million. As with any large city, it has a lot to offer, and certain neighborhoods are more preferable than others. Neighborhoods like Canton, Midtown and Mount Vernon offer the amenities of the city, but with lower crime rates.

Check out homes for sale in Baltimore and Baltimore housing market trends.

The Bottom Line

Maryland is a state with a lot to offer. Whether you want to be near Washington, D.C., a spot by the Appalachian Trail or a home in a cute small town on the bay, the state has you covered. The state has a lot of history and even though it has a higher cost of living, it’s still more affordable than other nearby areas. With its solid, diverse economy and many growing areas, now’s a good time to buy a house in Maryland.

If you’re planning on buying a house in Maryland, get approved with Rocket Mortgage^Ⓡ.

Methodology: Finding The Best Places To Live In In Maryland

Rocket Homes collected and analyzed the most recent data on 12 key local and countywide metrics to give us insight into the top cities best for living. The 108 most populated cities analyzed are home to 67% of U.S. residents living in Maryland.

The metrics used in this study include:

• Violent crime rate
• Property crime rate
• Unemployment rate
• Google search volume
• Median rent
• Well-being index
• Median monthly income
• Median monthly housing costs
• Median days on market for homes
• Median home list price
• Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey interest rates.

Some of these metrics were then used to calculate the housing cost to income ratio and home affordability index. These metrics were chosen based on public data availability and topical relevance. Metrics from the U.S. Census are based on 2021 ACS 5-year estimates. In one case, county-level data was used because data is not recorded at the local level.

The housing cost to income ratio was calculated by taking the median monthly housing costs divided by the median monthly income to get the average percentage of income spent on housing costs in a household.

The home affordability index was calculated using median listing price for homes in that city, interest rate from Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey, and median yearly income. To interpret the indices, a value equal to or greater than 1 means that the average person has enough income to qualify for a mortgage in that area. The calculation assumes a down-payment of 20% of the home price and a qualifying ratio of 25%.

Each data category was normalized and transformed into a range of points for scoring and comparison. Cities with violent crime rates greater than or equal to 55 and property crime rates greater than or equal to 65 were removed from the ranking. Weights were then applied to each metric depending on their individual importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric were summed to create the overall Best Places To Live Score for each city. The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings.

Other metrics considered without weight: