1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Kent County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $80,147. 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
- Kent County, MD: the basics
- Renting and owning in Kent County
- Household income in Kent County
- How Kent County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Kent County
- The counties around Kent County
- What a median Kent County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Kent County
- More Kent County figures
- Steps before you apply in Kent County
- Checking a lender's license in Maryland
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kent County, MD: the basics
Kent County is home to about 19,346 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 24 county-level areas in Maryland. Packed into 277 square miles, that is close to 70 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kent County is not part of any metropolitan area. Chestertown is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 5,594 people (29% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Kent County
A typical Kent County rental runs $1,209 a month including utilities, which is 29% below Maryland. By the Census definition, 60% of Kent County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $330,900, about 4.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Home costs | Kent County | Maryland | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,209/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $330,900 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 1.3% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Household income in Kent County
Kent County households have a median income of $80,147 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 24 in Maryland.
| Band | Kent County | Compared with Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +9.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.6% | -9.7 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. 9.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.453 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kent County median.
How Kent County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Kent County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Compared with Maryland, the county leans toward manufacturing (10% against 5%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Kent County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kent County | Gap to Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Kent County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Kent County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 10,570 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Galena has the highest median household income on the list ($88,958) and Chesapeake Landing the lowest ($53,566), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Rock Hall ($595) and steepest in Chestertown ($1,206). This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chestertown | town | 5,594 | $54,346 | $1,206 | 3 mi |
| Rock Hall | town | 1,215 | $74,597 | $595 | 9 mi |
| Galena | town | 728 | $88,958 | $863 | 15 mi |
| Butlertown | CDP | 511 | $72,991 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Chesapeake Landing | CDP | 509 | $53,566 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Millington | town | 469 | $61,691 | $1,215 | 15 mi |
| Betterton | town | 391 | $86,250 | $1,143 | 9 mi |
| Tolchester | CDP | 379 | $121,042 | $1,073 | 6 mi |
| Fairlee | CDP | 299 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
| Kennedyville | CDP | 205 | $36,510 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Worton | CDP | 126 | $90,982 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Still Pond | CDP | 102 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Edesville | CDP | 34 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Georgetown | CDP | 8 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
The counties around Kent County
Six nearby counties, 14 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Anne Arundel County leads the group on income ($124,911), Baltimore city trails ($62,177), and Kent County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | - | $80,147 | $1,209/mo | 73% |
| Queen Anne's County, MD | 14 mi | $112,826 | $1,619/mo | 83% |
| Harford County, MD | 22 mi | $112,265 | $1,586/mo | 80% |
| Cecil County, MD | 24 mi | $92,007 | $1,377/mo | 75% |
| Baltimore city, MD | 26 mi | $62,177 | $1,331/mo | 48% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 29 mi | $124,911 | $2,071/mo | 75% |
| Baltimore County, MD | 30 mi | $91,768 | $1,627/mo | 66% |
What a median Kent County budget can carry
How much room does a median Kent County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,679 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,209, which is 18% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,672 total minus rent leaves $1,463
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Kent County's.
Before borrowing in Kent County
What the Kent County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 60% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Kent County figures
College graduates make up 40% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Kent County | Maryland statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.6% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Kent County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.0% |
Steps before you apply in Kent County
Steps that save money for Kent County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Maryland
Consumer lenders serving Kent County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Maryland that is the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Maryland guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Maryland guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kent County household make?
About $80,147 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Maryland median.
How much is rent in Kent County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,209 a month; 60% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Kent County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Chestertown, Rock Hall, Galena, Butlertown, Chesapeake Landing and 9 more.
Is the fit check different in Kent County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Kent 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.