Best counties to live in Maryland

Written by:
Stacker
April 8, 2024
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

Best counties to live in Maryland

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Maryland using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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Chris Guy Jr // Shutterstock

#23. Caroline County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 33,320
- Median household income: $65,326
- Median home value: $258,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,074 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Colonel Richardson High School (grade B+), Denton Elementary School (grade B), Ridgely Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: SMITHSON'S CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Denton (grade B minus), Federalsburg (grade C+), Ridgely (grade C+)

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#22. Dorchester County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 32,557
- Median household income: $57,490
- Median home value: $226,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $968 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: South Dorchester School (grade B), Warwick Elementary School (grade B minus), North Dorchester High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Countryside Christian School (grade unavailable), Open Bible Academy (grade unavailable), Cambridge Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Algonquin (grade C+), Cambridge (grade C), Hurlock (grade B minus)

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#21. Somerset County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 24,672
- Median household income: $52,149
- Median home value: $157,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $934 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Princess Anne Elementary School (grade B), Crisfield Academy & High School (grade B minus), Deal Island School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Holly Grove Christian School (grade B+), Well Watered Wells Leadership Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Crisfield (grade B minus), Princess Anne (grade C+), Eden (grade C minus)

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#20. Cecil County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 103,876
- Median household income: $86,869
- Median home value: $292,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,322 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Bohemia Manor High School (grade B), Elkton High School (grade B), Charlestown Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: West Nottingham Academy (grade A+), The Tome School (grade A minus), Tri-State Christian Academy (grade C+)
- Top places: North East (grade B), Rising Sun (grade B minus), Charlestown (grade B minus)

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#19. Allegany County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 68,161
- Median household income: $55,248
- Median home value: $143,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $743 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Frost Elementary School (grade B), Beall Elementary School (grade B), West Side Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Bishop Walsh School (grade A minus), Calvary Christian Academy (grade C+), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade C minus)
- Top places: La Vale (grade A minus), Bel Air (grade B+), Frostburg (grade B+)

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#18. Garrett County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 28,856
- Median household income: $64,447
- Median home value: $220,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $681 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Swan Meadow School (grade A minus), Northern Garrett High School (grade B), Northern Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Bittinger Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Swanton Mennonite Fellowship School (grade unavailable), Casselman Valley School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oakland (grade B), Mountain Lake Park (grade C+), Loch Lynn Heights (grade B minus)

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#17. Prince George's County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 1,287
- Population: 957,189
- Median household income: $97,935
- Median home value: $380,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,713 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC (grade A+), Eleanor Roosevelt High School (grade A), Glenarden Woods Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: DeMatha Catholic High School (grade A), Belair Baptist Christian Academy (grade A), New Hope Academy (grade A)
- Top places: University Park (grade A+), Fairwood (grade A), Berwyn Heights (grade A minus)

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#16. Washington County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 1,071
- Population: 154,645
- Median household income: $73,017
- Median home value: $262,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,049 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (grade A), Fountaindale Elementary School (grade A minus), Williamsport Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Saint James School (grade A+), Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (grade A), Highland View Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: St. James (grade A minus), Smithsburg (grade B+), Robinwood (grade B+)

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#15. Kent County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 913
- Population: 19,289
- Median household income: $71,635
- Median home value: $291,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Hall Elementary School (grade B minus), H.H. Garnett Elementary School (grade B minus), Kent County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Chestertown Christian Academy (grade C minus), Kent School (grade unavailable), Radcliffe Creek School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Chestertown (grade B), Tolchester (grade B+), Galena (grade B+)

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#14. Charles County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 763
- Population: 167,035
- Median household income: $116,882
- Median home value: $382,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,839 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: North Point High School (grade A), La Plata High School (grade A minus), Dr. James Craik Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Grace Christian Academy of Maryland (grade A minus), Southern Maryland Christian Academy (grade B), St. Peter's School (grade A)
- Top places: La Plata (grade B+), Waldorf (grade B), Potomac Heights (grade B minus)

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Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#13. Queen Anne's County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 641
- Population: 50,316
- Median household income: $108,332
- Median home value: $421,900 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,600 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Kent Island High School (grade A minus), Bayside Elementary School (grade B+), Grasonville Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Gunston School (grade A), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Wye River Upper School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Kingstown (grade A minus), Stevensville (grade B+), Centreville (grade B+)

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#12. Wicomico County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 584
- Population: 103,815
- Median household income: $69,421
- Median home value: $226,900 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,190 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: North Salisbury Elementary School (grade A minus), James M. Bennett High School (grade B+), Parkside High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Salisbury School (grade A+), Faith Baptist School (grade A minus), Salisbury Christian School (grade B)
- Top places: Fruitland (grade B+), Salisbury (grade B minus), Delmar (grade B minus)

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#11. Talbot County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 452
- Population: 37,663
- Median household income: $81,667
- Median home value: $382,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,204 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: White Marsh Elementary School (grade B), Easton High School (grade B), St. Michaels Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Saints Peter & Paul High School (grade A), Chesapeake Christian School (grade B minus), Ss. Peter & Paul Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Easton (grade A minus), St. Michaels (grade B+), Oxford (grade B)

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#10. Carroll County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 351
- Population: 173,225
- Median household income: $111,672
- Median home value: $390,200 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,283 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Century High School (grade A), Liberty High School (grade A), Freedom District Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Gerstell Academy (grade A), Carroll Christian Schools (grade B), Silver Oak Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Sykesville (grade A), Eldersburg (grade A), Hampstead (grade A minus)

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Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#9. St. Mary's County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 336
- Population: 113,814
- Median household income: $113,668
- Median home value: $376,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,595 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Chesapeake Charter School (grade A minus), Lexington Park Elementary School (grade A minus), Leonardtown High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Ryken High School (grade A), The King's Christian Academy (grade B+), St. John's Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: California (grade A), Leonardtown (grade A), Lexington Park (grade B+)

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#8. Worcester County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 324
- Population: 52,827
- Median household income: $76,689
- Median home value: $310,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Berlin Intermediate School (grade A), Ocean City Elementary School (grade A), Snow Hill High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Worcester Preparatory School (grade A+), Seaside Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Berlin (grade A minus), Ocean City (grade A minus), Pocomoke City (grade B+)

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#7. Calvert County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 269
- Population: 93,244
- Median household income: $128,078
- Median home value: $418,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,589 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Huntingtown High School (grade A), Northern High School (grade A minus), Mount Harmony Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Calverton School (grade A+), Cardinal Hickey Academy (grade A), Our Lady Star of the Sea School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Dunkirk (grade A), Chesapeake Beach (grade A), Huntingtown (grade A minus)

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#6. Harford County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 267
- Population: 261,059
- Median household income: $106,417
- Median home value: $351,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,475 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Harford Technical High School (grade A), Patterson Mill High School (grade A), Bel Air High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Grace Classical Academy (grade A), The John Carroll School (grade A minus), New Covenant Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Pleasant Hills (grade A), Fallston (grade A), Havre de Grace (grade A)

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#5. Baltimore County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 157
- Population: 850,737
- Median household income: $88,157
- Median home value: $310,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,479 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Eastern Technical High School (grade A+), Western School of Technology & Environmental Science (grade A), George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Timothy's School (grade A+), McDonogh School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+)
- Top places: Lutherville (grade A+), Towson (grade A+), Timonium (grade A+)

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#4. Anne Arundel County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 119
- Population: 588,109
- Median household income: $116,009
- Median home value: $432,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,908 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Severna Park High School (grade A+), Broadneck High School (grade A), South River High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Key School (grade A+), Severn School (grade A+), Indian Creek School (grade A+)
- Top places: Crofton (grade A+), Odenton (grade A), Arnold (grade A)

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#3. Frederick County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 77
- Population: 273,829
- Median household income: $115,724
- Median home value: $412,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,633 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Urbana High School (grade A+), Oakdale High School (grade A), Sugarloaf Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Friends Meeting School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Urbana (grade A+), Monrovia (grade A+), Spring Ridge (grade A+)

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#2. Montgomery County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 13
- Population: 1,056,910
- Median household income: $125,583
- Median home value: $588,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,957 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Poolesville High School (grade A+), Walt Whitman High School (grade A+), Winston Churchill High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Landon School (grade A+), Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+)
- Top places: North Bethesda (grade A+), North Potomac (grade A+), South Kensington (grade A+)

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#1. Howard County, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 1
- Population: 332,011
- Median household income: $140,971
- Median home value: $551,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,920 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: River Hill High School (grade A+), Marriotts Ridge High School (grade A+), Centennial High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Glenelg Country School (grade A+), Chapelgate Christian Academy (grade A), Fusion Academy Columbia (grade B)
- Top places: Ellicott City (grade A+), Fulton (grade A+), Columbia (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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