Best counties to retire to in Maryland

Written by:
September 25, 2025
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Best counties to retire to in Maryland

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

To find the best counties to retire to in Maryland based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Maryland.

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#23. Caroline County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 33,406
- Median household income: $66,368
- Median home value: $272,400
- Top places to live: Denton (B-), Federalsburg (C+), Ridgely (B-)

#22. Charles County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 168,710
- Median household income: $120,592
- Median home value: $402,300
- Top places to live: La Plata (B+), Potomac Heights (B+), Bryans Road (B)

#21. Somerset County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 24,685
- Median household income: $52,462
- Median home value: $164,300
- Top places to live: Crisfield (B-), Princess Anne (B-), Fairmount (B)

#20. Prince George's County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 955,584
- Median household income: $100,708
- Median home value: $404,300
- Top places to live: University Park (A+), West Laurel (A), Fairwood (A-)

#19. Cecil County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 104,366
- Median household income: $91,146
- Median home value: $311,800
- Top places to live: North East (B), Rising Sun (B), Charlestown (B-)

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#18. St. Mary's County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 114,372
- Median household income: $114,580
- Median home value: $390,900
- Top places to live: California (A), Leonardtown (A), Lexington Park (A-)

#17. Dorchester County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 32,612
- Median household income: $60,495
- Median home value: $252,300
- Top places to live: Algonquin (C+), Cambridge (C), Hurlock (C+)

#16. Harford County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 262,509
- Median household income: $111,317
- Median home value: $367,300
- Top places to live: Fallston (A), Pleasant Hills (A), Havre de Grace (A-)

#15. Frederick County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 280,341
- Median household income: $120,458
- Median home value: $437,700
- Top places to live: Monrovia (A+), Urbana (A+), Spring Ridge (A+)

#14. Garrett County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 28,713
- Median household income: $69,031
- Median home value: $217,000
- Top places to live: Oakland (B), Mountain Lake Park (C+), Bloomington (B)

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#13. Washington County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 155,033
- Median household income: $74,157
- Median home value: $275,900
- Top places to live: St. James (B+), Robinwood (B), Smithsburg (B)

#12. Carroll County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 174,318
- Median household income: $115,876
- Median home value: $406,400
- Top places to live: Sykesville (A), Eldersburg (A), Hampstead (A-)

#11. Anne Arundel County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 590,936
- Median household income: $120,324
- Median home value: $450,300
- Top places to live: Crofton (A+), Arnold (A), Odenton (A)

#10. Howard County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 333,916
- Median household income: $146,982
- Median home value: $576,700
- Top places to live: Fulton (A+), Ellicott City (A+), Columbia (A+)

#9. Queen Anne's County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 50,951
- Median household income: $113,347
- Median home value: $441,800
- Top places to live: Stevensville (A-), Kingstown (B+), Centreville (B+)

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#8. Baltimore County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 849,586
- Median household income: $90,904
- Median home value: $330,000
- Top places to live: Lutherville (A+), Towson (A+), Timonium (A+)

#7. Calvert County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 93,791
- Median household income: $132,059
- Median home value: $440,200
- Top places to live: Chesapeake Beach (A), Dunkirk (A), Owings (A-)

#6. Wicomico County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 104,117
- Median household income: $72,861
- Median home value: $238,900
- Top places to live: Fruitland (A-), Delmar (B), Salisbury (B-)

#5. Montgomery County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,057,586
- Median household income: $128,733
- Median home value: $615,200
- Top places to live: North Potomac (A+), North Bethesda (A+), Potomac (A+)

#4. Allegany County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 67,762
- Median household income: $57,393
- Median home value: $149,200
- Top places to live: La Vale (A-), Frostburg (B+), Bel Air (B+)

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#3. Kent County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 19,265
- Median household income: $74,402
- Median home value: $307,100
- Top places to live: Chestertown (B), Tolchester (A-), Galena (B)

#2. Talbot County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 37,707
- Median household income: $84,378
- Median home value: $398,300
- Top places to live: Easton (B+), St. Michaels (A-), Oxford (B)

#1. Worcester County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 53,279
- Median household income: $81,455
- Median home value: $348,100
- Top places to live: Berlin (A-), Ocean City (A-), Pocomoke City (A-)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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