1st Advantage MortgageThe median St. Mary's County household earns $119,446, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in St. Mary's County
- How much St. Mary's County households make
- What it costs to live in St. Mary's County
- The St. Mary's County job picture
- Towns and communities in St. Mary's County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median St. Mary's County budget can carry
- More St. Mary's County figures
- What the numbers mean for St. Mary's County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Maryland
- Before you sign
- More guides for St. Mary's County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County is home to about 115,126 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 12th most populous of 24 county-level areas in Maryland. Packed into 359 square miles, that is close to 321 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Lexington Park, MD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 11 Census places inside St. Mary's County, Lexington Park leads by population with about 13,252; 1 of the 11 are incorporated.
How much St. Mary's County households make
Half of St. Mary's County households take in less than $119,446 a year and half take in more, 15% above the Maryland median of $103,678. Only 6 Maryland counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | St. Mary's County | Gap to Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.3% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.4% | -4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.8% | +3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.5% | +3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 58% of St. Mary's County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 9.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.409 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the St. Mary's County median.
What it costs to live in St. Mary's County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,747 in St. Mary's County versus $1,705 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. Home values center on $407,600, or 3.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1992.
| Cost | St. Mary's County | Maryland figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,747/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $407,600 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | 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).
The St. Mary's County job picture
Public administration employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Public administration stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for St. Mary's County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 72% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | St. Mary's County share | +/- vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 20.4% | +9.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.7% | -5.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.0% | -1.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Towns and communities in St. Mary's County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of St. Mary's County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $84,271 in Charlotte Hall to $160,341 in Callaway. Median rent ranges from $943 in Charlotte Hall to $2,144 in Wildewood. No St. Mary's County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | CDP | 13,252 | $94,799 | $1,755 | 5 mi |
| California | CDP | 13,136 | $119,855 | $1,927 | 6 mi |
| Wildewood | CDP | 7,552 | $126,890 | $2,144 | 6 mi |
| Leonardtown | town | 4,808 | $153,819 | $2,002 | 8 mi |
| Golden Beach | CDP | 3,830 | $133,194 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Mechanicsville | CDP | 1,395 | $120,966 | $1,511 | 18 mi |
| Piney Point | CDP | 1,274 | $129,018 | $1,442 | 5 mi |
| Charlotte Hall | CDP | 1,172 | $84,271 | $943 | 22 mi |
| Callaway | CDP | 930 | $160,341 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Tall Timbers | CDP | 391 | $195,982 | n/a | 4 mi |
| St. George Island | CDP | 277 | $250,001 | n/a | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to St. Mary's County's, from 17 to 30 miles away. Income ranges from $56,520 in Essex County to $133,922 in Calvert County; 1 of these neighbors top St. Mary's County's median. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a St. Mary's County resident follows Maryland rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's County | - | $119,446 | $1,747/mo | 73% |
| Westmoreland County, VA | 17 mi | $63,398 | $1,018/mo | 80% |
| Calvert County, MD | 21 mi | $133,922 | $1,759/mo | 87% |
| Richmond County, VA | 22 mi | $66,304 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| Northumberland County, VA | 27 mi | $66,480 | $1,038/mo | 86% |
| Essex County, VA | 29 mi | $56,520 | $972/mo | 72% |
| Dorchester County, MD | 30 mi | $61,839 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
What a median St. Mary's County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a St. Mary's County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $9,954 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,747 uses 18%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,737 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $4,479 total minus rent leaves $2,732
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of St. Mary's County's.
More St. Mary's County figures
36% of St. Mary's County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 6.3% for Maryland.
| Residents | St. Mary's County | Maryland | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.5% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of St. Mary's County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.2% |
What the numbers mean for St. Mary's County borrowers
A few patterns in the St. Mary's County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent St. Mary's County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 58% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Maryland
The Maryland Office of Financial Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Maryland license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Maryland guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
A short checklist for St. Mary's County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in St. Mary's County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Maryland license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for St. Mary's County
For statewide rules and data, see the Maryland guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical St. Mary's County household make?
About $119,446 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% above the Maryland median.
Is St. Mary's County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,747 against $1,705 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in St. Mary's County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in St. Mary's County?
By population: Lexington Park, California, Wildewood, Leonardtown, Golden Beach. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Will a St. Mary's County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Maryland as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.