Best counties to live in 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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.