1st Advantage MortgageThe median Garrett County household earns $67,688, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Garrett County, MD: the basics
- How much Garrett County households make
- How Garrett County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Garrett County
- Garrett County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Garrett County
- What a median Garrett County budget can carry
- Reading the Garrett County data as a borrower
- Garrett County households compared
- Four steps for Garrett County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Garrett County
- More guides for Garrett County
- Frequently asked questions
Garrett County, MD: the basics
Roughly 28,615 residents live in Garrett County, Maryland, 22nd by population among the state's 24 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 649 square miles, that works out to roughly 44.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Oakland is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 2,254 people (8% of the county total).
How much Garrett County households make
Garrett County households have a median income of $67,688 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 20th of 24 in Maryland.
| Household income | Garrett County | vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +10.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.3% | -11.0 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 11.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.493 here. None of these numbers decides a Garrett County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Garrett County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with Maryland, the county leans toward manufacturing (10% against 5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Garrett County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 75% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 7.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Garrett County | Gap to Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | +5.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -6.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Garrett County
Renters in Garrett County pay a median of $765 a month, 55% below the Maryland figure of $1,705. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $235,300, about 3.5 times the median household income. 80% of Garrett County households own their home and 20% rent. Median construction year: 1982.
| Measure | Garrett County | Maryland | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $235,300 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Garrett County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Garrett County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Mineral County at 20 miles out to Somerset County at 33. Mineral County leads the group on income ($69,375), Fayette County trails ($58,236), and Garrett County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into Pennsylvania, West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett County | - | $67,688 | $765/mo | 80% |
| Mineral County, WV | 20 mi | $69,375 | $809/mo | 81% |
| Preston County, WV | 22 mi | $61,880 | $750/mo | 81% |
| Allegany County, MD | 31 mi | $59,603 | $805/mo | 71% |
| Grant County, WV | 31 mi | $62,361 | $644/mo | 81% |
| Fayette County, PA | 32 mi | $58,236 | $793/mo | 72% |
| Somerset County, PA | 33 mi | $61,446 | $753/mo | 80% |
Places inside Garrett County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 30% of Garrett County residents live in one of the 15. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,512 in Grantsville to $115,343 in Finzel. Rent is cheapest in Grantsville ($628) and steepest in Mountain Lake Park ($736). None of the 15 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | town | 2,254 | $53,289 | $670 | 11 mi |
| Mountain Lake Park | town | 2,167 | $60,875 | $736 | 12 mi |
| Grantsville | town | 1,013 | $38,512 | $628 | 12 mi |
| Finzel | CDP | 740 | $115,343 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Loch Lynn Heights | town | 480 | $48,958 | $881 | 12 mi |
| Friendsville | town | 416 | $46,053 | $438 | 11 mi |
| Accident | town | 351 | $58,929 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Deer Park | town | 288 | $52,500 | $850 | 9 mi |
| Kitzmiller | town | 264 | $55,500 | $888 | 12 mi |
| Crellin | CDP | 165 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Hutton | CDP | 157 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Bloomington | CDP | 150 | $59,063 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Gorman | CDP | 100 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Jennings | CDP | 16 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Garrett County budget can carry
Here is the Garrett County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Garrett County: $5,641
- Less median rent of $765, which is 14% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,031 total minus rent leaves $1,266
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,660 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $765, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Garrett County data as a borrower
What the Garrett County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Garrett County households compared
26% of Garrett County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Garrett County | Maryland | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.9% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Four steps for Garrett County borrowers
Steps that save money for Garrett County residents:
- Price the Garrett County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Garrett County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Garrett County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Garrett County resident can confirm its license with the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Maryland state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Garrett County
For statewide rules and data, see the Maryland guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Garrett County a high-income county?
Its $67,688 median ranks 20th of 24 Maryland counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Garrett County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $765 a month; 35% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Garrett County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Garrett County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Garrett County?
By population: Oakland, Mountain Lake Park, Grantsville, Finzel, Loch Lynn Heights. The county has 15 Census places in all.
Does living in Garrett 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 Garrett County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.