Median household income in Maryland is $103,678 and median rent is $1,705 a month, per Census 2020 to 2024 estimates. Compare at least three written offers on APR and total cost, verify the lender's license with the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation, and never pay a fee before funding.
On this page
- Maryland by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Maryland borrowers
- Largest places in Maryland
- Other sizable places in Maryland
- Counties with the most residents
- How Maryland earns a living
- More context for Maryland budgets
- Checking a lender in Maryland
- Can Maryland residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Maryland
- Frequently asked questions
Maryland by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for Maryland, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| Budget measure | Maryland | U.S. | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,678 | $80,734 | 3rd |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.2% | 26th |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,705 | $1,413 | 8th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 51% | 51% | 15th |
| Home value, median | $419,900 | $332,700 | 12th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 68% | 65% | 24th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 27% | 28% | 23rd |
| Years of median income to buy the median home | 4.1x | 4.1x | 22nd |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 24% | 17% | 2nd |
| Working from home | 19% | 15% | 4th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 43% | 36% | 6th |
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.9 | 21st |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.456 | 0.483 | 36th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 16% | 21% | 48th |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 52% | 41% | 2nd |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% | 12.5% | 47th |
What the numbers mean for Maryland borrowers
In Maryland, 19% of workers work from home and 24% spend 45 minutes or more getting to work, compared with 15% and 17% nationally. Working from home cuts commuting costs but can make income harder to document if you are a contractor.
Ranked by median household income, Maryland comes in 3rd with $103,678, 28% above the country's $80,734. Half of households earn more than this and half earn less, and a lender will look only at where you sit.
Roughly one in 2 Maryland households earns six figures (52%), and 20% clear $200,000, while 16% live on less than $35,000. Our partners generally look for at least $30,000 in yearly income from any regular source, so households near the bottom of that range may be better served by free options first.
Jobs and hardship: an average 4.9% unemployment rate in the 2020 to 2024 survey, and 9.4% of people below the federal poverty line. A new job is not a deal breaker for most lenders, but a gap in income usually is.
Largest places in Maryland
Population, income and housing costs for the 12 largest places in Maryland (ACS 2020 to 2024); linked names open a local guide.
| City or town | County | People | Median household income | Median rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | Baltimore city | 573,243 | $62,177 | $1,331 | $229,600 |
| Columbia | Howard County | 104,338 | $131,490 | $2,042 | $497,400 |
| Germantown | Montgomery County | 90,719 | $117,546 | $2,040 | $422,400 |
| Frederick | Frederick County | 83,395 | $97,069 | $1,764 | $401,500 |
| Waldorf | Charles County | 82,943 | $116,089 | $1,995 | $407,600 |
| Silver Spring | Montgomery County | 81,462 | $99,860 | $1,913 | $643,300 |
| Ellicott City | Howard County | 75,257 | $156,964 | $2,061 | $661,700 |
| Glen Burnie | Anne Arundel County | 72,590 | $88,280 | $1,648 | $348,900 |
| Gaithersburg | Montgomery County | 69,825 | $112,467 | $2,058 | $496,500 |
| Bethesda | Montgomery County | 69,397 | $192,237 | $2,469 | $1,169,900 |
| Rockville | Montgomery County | 67,671 | $128,649 | $2,274 | $682,300 |
| Dundalk | Baltimore County | 65,969 | $64,520 | $1,473 | $212,700 |
Size first: 18 Maryland places pass 50,000 residents and 139 pass 10,000. Income next: among those over 20,000, Hagerstown sits lowest at $52,221 and Potomac highest at $236,675. The highest median rent among them is $2,887 in Potomac, the lowest $1,114 in Hagerstown.
Other sizable places in Maryland
Continuing down the population list from Towson to Chillum.
| Community | Residents | Median household income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towson | 58,679 | $101,320 | $1,764 |
| Severn | 58,402 | $134,423 | $2,175 |
| Bel Air South | 58,137 | $123,653 | $1,757 |
| Bowie | 57,926 | $141,995 | $2,330 |
| Aspen Hill | 53,279 | $111,575 | $1,916 |
| Wheaton | 52,926 | $111,478 | $2,163 |
| North Bethesda | 49,677 | $129,092 | $2,191 |
| Potomac | 45,902 | $236,675 | $2,887 |
| Odenton | 45,002 | $128,441 | $2,257 |
| Hagerstown | 43,665 | $52,221 | $1,114 |
| Catonsville | 43,368 | $114,109 | $1,724 |
| Annapolis | 40,720 | $113,860 | $1,860 |
| Essex | 40,580 | $67,168 | $1,319 |
| Woodlawn | 40,379 | $82,466 | $1,494 |
| Severna Park | 40,228 | $169,953 | $1,699 |
| Clinton | 38,376 | $124,803 | $1,809 |
| Owings Mills | 37,245 | $96,243 | $1,841 |
| Randallstown | 35,957 | $85,735 | $1,577 |
| Olney | 35,797 | $171,458 | $2,404 |
| Chillum | 34,871 | $79,864 | $1,735 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Chillum (26%) and least in Severna Park (12%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 24 counties in Maryland, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Population | Median income | Median gross rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 1,065,949 | $132,450 | $2,068 | $640,300 |
| Prince George's County | 959,754 | $101,798 | $1,799 | $426,000 |
| Baltimore County | 850,796 | $91,768 | $1,627 | $349,300 |
| Anne Arundel County | 598,166 | $124,911 | $2,071 | $467,900 |
| Baltimore city | 573,243 | $62,177 | $1,331 | $229,600 |
| Howard County | 336,328 | $149,763 | $2,099 | $597,900 |
| Frederick County | 287,048 | $122,002 | $1,774 | $464,600 |
| Harford County | 263,757 | $112,265 | $1,586 | $386,400 |
| Carroll County | 175,321 | $118,211 | $1,427 | $434,000 |
| Charles County | 170,527 | $122,816 | $1,920 | $428,500 |
| Washington County | 155,709 | $77,747 | $1,147 | $296,100 |
| St. Mary's County | 115,126 | $119,446 | $1,747 | $407,600 |
| Cecil County | 104,960 | $92,007 | $1,377 | $343,400 |
| Wicomico County | 104,914 | $76,210 | $1,327 | $254,700 |
| Calvert County | 94,313 | $133,922 | $1,759 | $460,200 |
| Allegany County | 67,452 | $59,603 | $805 | $154,900 |
The richest county by median income is Howard County ($149,763); the lowest is Allegany County ($59,603). Lenders price your own file, not your county, but local costs decide how much payment your budget can carry.
How Maryland earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most Maryland residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Industry | Share of Maryland workers | National share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 24% | 24% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 17% | 13% | +3.9 pts |
| Public administration | 11% | 5% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9% | 11% | -1.9 pts |
Compared with the country, Maryland leans most toward public administration, at 11% of workers against 5% nationally. Whatever the sector, bring proof of income that covers at least the last two months.
More context for Maryland budgets
With a median age of 39.4 and 43% of adults holding a four-year degree, Maryland has a Gini inequality index of 0.456, ranking 36th from most to least unequal.
Owners make up 68% of Maryland households. With a median home value of $419,900, 12th of 51, a house costs about 4.1 years of median household income. 27% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
A Maryland renter pays $1,705 a month at the median, and 51% of renters carry a rent burden of 30 percent or more, above the 51% U.S. rate. Rent-burdened households should put a cushion ahead of any loan, even a small one.
Checking a lender in Maryland
License checks come first. Maryland's banking agency, per the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation, and many consumer lenders also show their state licenses on NMLS Consumer Access.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
Can Maryland residents use the questionnaire?
Availability of lending partners varies by state. When Maryland is not yet covered, the form tells you on the second step and lets you join an email list, with no calls and nothing else collected.
Local guides in Maryland
City-level guides for Maryland (8 so far):
Frequently asked questions
Which agency licenses lenders in Maryland?
The state banking agency listed for Maryland by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
What do households in Maryland earn?
About $103,678. Half of Maryland households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
How much do Maryland renters pay?
Median gross rent is $1,705 a month, and 51% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
What share of Maryland households earn $100,000 or more?
52% of households, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, while 16% earn under $35,000. Lenders look at your own documented income, not these shares.