1st Advantage MortgageIn Talbot County, Maryland, the typical household earns $84,811 a year and the typical rent is $1,256. 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
- Getting oriented in Talbot County
- How Talbot County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Talbot County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Talbot County
- The communities that make up Talbot County
- Counties near Talbot County
- Budget math at the Talbot County median
- More Talbot County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Talbot County
- A Talbot County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Talbot County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Talbot County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Talbot County's population at 37,917; only 18 of Maryland's 24 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 269 square miles, that is close to 141 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Talbot County, Easton leads by population with about 17,308; 4 of the 6 are incorporated.
How Talbot County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 15%. Compared with Maryland, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (11% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Talbot County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home.
| Sector | Talbot County | Compared with Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | -4.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Talbot County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Talbot County
The median household income in Talbot County is $84,811; statewide it is $103,678, so Talbot County runs 18% below Maryland as a whole. In the state ranking that is 14th of 24.
| Yearly household income | Talbot County | Gap to Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.0% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.8% | -4.5 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 43% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.3%, the same as the state's 9.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.506 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Talbot County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Talbot County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,256 in Talbot County versus $1,705 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $409,700, about 4.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Home costs | Talbot County | Maryland | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,256/mo | $1,705/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $409,700 | $419,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% | 1.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 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). 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?
The communities that make up Talbot County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Talbot County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $83,207 at the median in Oxford, $45,625 in Tilghman Island. Median rent ranges from $917 in St. Michaels to $2,250 in Oxford. No Talbot County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easton | town | 17,308 | $74,653 | $1,197 | 6 mi |
| St. Michaels | town | 1,240 | $78,265 | $917 | 4 mi |
| Trappe | town | 1,055 | $60,917 | $1,330 | 9 mi |
| Tilghman Island | CDP | 741 | $45,625 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Oxford | town | 706 | $83,207 | $2,250 | 4 mi |
| Cordova | CDP | 448 | $64,196 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Talbot County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Talbot County's, from 21 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $61,839 in Dorchester County to $133,922 in Calvert County; 3 of these neighbors top Talbot County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot County | - | $84,811 | $1,256/mo | 75% |
| Caroline County, MD | 21 mi | $68,457 | $1,105/mo | 72% |
| Queen Anne's County, MD | 21 mi | $112,826 | $1,619/mo | 83% |
| Dorchester County, MD | 23 mi | $61,839 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
| Calvert County, MD | 25 mi | $133,922 | $1,759/mo | 87% |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 27 mi | $124,911 | $2,071/mo | 75% |
| Kent County, MD | 34 mi | $80,147 | $1,209/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Talbot County median
Here is the Talbot County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $7,068 gross per month ($84,811 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,256, takes 18% of that
- $1,288: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,256, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Talbot County figures
42% of Talbot County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 6.3% for Maryland.
| Residents | Talbot County | Maryland | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.0% | 43.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 8.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 19.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Talbot County
A few patterns in the Talbot County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Talbot County's median age is 51.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Talbot County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Talbot County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Talbot County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Maryland borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Talbot County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Talbot County, check the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Maryland guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Maryland guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Talbot County?
$84,811 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,678 for Maryland. It ranks 14th of 24 in the state.
Is Talbot County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,256 against $1,705 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Talbot County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Easton, St. Michaels, Trappe, Tilghman Island, Oxford.
Does living in Talbot 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 Talbot County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Talbot County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Maryland it is the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation.