1st Advantage MortgageBaltimore County households have a median income of $91,768 and median rent of $1,627 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Maryland license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Baltimore County
- Jobs and commutes in Baltimore County
- What Baltimore County households earn
- Housing costs in Baltimore County
- Places inside Baltimore County
- Counties near Baltimore County
- Room for a loan payment in Baltimore County
- What the numbers mean for Baltimore County borrowers
- Who lives in Baltimore County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Baltimore County
- Lender oversight for Baltimore County
- More guides for Baltimore County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Baltimore County
With an estimated 850,796 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Baltimore County ranks 3rd of 24 in Maryland for population. Land area is 598 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,422 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan area. Of the 32 Census places inside Baltimore County, Dundalk leads by population with about 65,969; 0 of the 32 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Baltimore County
The biggest employer of Baltimore County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Compared with Maryland, the county leans toward education and health care (28% against 24%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Baltimore County. About 69% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Baltimore County | Difference from Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.5% | -3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | +1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Baltimore County households earn
At $91,768, the typical Baltimore County household income is 40% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 12 Maryland counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Baltimore County | +/- vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.3% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.3% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.9% | -4.4 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 46% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.8%, the same as the state's 9.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.458 here. A household earning below the $91,768 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Baltimore County
A typical Baltimore County rental runs $1,627 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Maryland. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $349,300, a typical Baltimore County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Baltimore County | Maryland | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,627/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $349,300 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% | 1.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Baltimore County
The table lists the 14 largest of 32 Census places in Baltimore County, by population. Together all 32 hold about 762,263 people, so roughly 10% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $170,688 at the median in Hampton, $58,605 in Lansdowne. Rent is cheapest in Kingsville ($721) and steepest in Honeygo ($2,500). Names with links open a city guide. The other 31 places are covered here.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk | CDP | 65,969 | $64,520 | $1,473 | 14 mi |
| Towson | CDP | 58,679 | $101,320 | $1,764 | 3 mi |
| Catonsville | CDP | 43,368 | $114,109 | $1,724 | 14 mi |
| Essex | CDP | 40,580 | $67,168 | $1,319 | 13 mi |
| Woodlawn | CDP | 40,379 | $82,466 | $1,494 | 12 mi |
| Owings Mills | CDP | 37,245 | $96,243 | $1,841 | 9 mi |
| Randallstown | CDP | 35,957 | $85,735 | $1,577 | 11 mi |
| Pikesville | CDP | 33,524 | $98,465 | $1,707 | 6 mi |
| Middle River | CDP | 31,712 | $78,398 | $1,636 | 12 mi |
| Milford Mill | CDP | 30,829 | $69,711 | $1,653 | 10 mi |
| Parkville | CDP | 30,549 | $79,178 | $1,526 | 5 mi |
| Perry Hall | CDP | 29,105 | $106,244 | $1,706 | 8 mi |
| Carney | CDP | 28,343 | $83,620 | $1,793 | 6 mi |
| Lochearn | CDP | 27,074 | $74,707 | $1,460 | 9 mi |
Counties near Baltimore County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (10 to 31 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Baltimore County; Howard County is highest at $149,763 and Baltimore city lowest at $62,177.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore County | - | $91,768 | $1,627/mo | 66% |
| Baltimore city, MD | 10 mi | $62,177 | $1,331/mo | 48% |
| Harford County, MD | 18 mi | $112,265 | $1,586/mo | 80% |
| Howard County, MD | 21 mi | $149,763 | $2,099/mo | 71% |
| Carroll County, MD | 23 mi | $118,211 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| Kent County, MD | 30 mi | $80,147 | $1,209/mo | 73% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 31 mi | $124,911 | $2,071/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Baltimore County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Baltimore County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Baltimore County: $7,647
- Less median rent of $1,627, which is 21% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,126 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,661 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Baltimore County's.
What the numbers mean for Baltimore County borrowers
Where the Baltimore County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 46% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Baltimore County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Baltimore County, in numbers
42% of Baltimore County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Baltimore County | Maryland statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.3% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Steps before you apply in Baltimore County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Baltimore County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Baltimore County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Baltimore County resident can confirm its license with the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Maryland guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Baltimore County
City guides inside Baltimore County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Baltimore County?
$91,768 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,678 for Maryland. It ranks 13th of 24 in the state.
Is Baltimore County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,627 against $1,705 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Dundalk?
Yes, along with the other 31 Census places in Baltimore County, such as Towson, Catonsville, Essex.
Does living in Baltimore County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Baltimore County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Baltimore County check a lender's license?
With the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.