50
States ranked
1,312
Cities scored
49
Data sources
11
Scoring categories
America’s Dashboard

America's Dashboard ranks and scores all 50 US states and1,312 cities using real government data. Compare economy, safety, health, education, affordability, and more — free, transparent, and updated with the latest federal statistics.

Updated as each source publishes its latest release

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Data sources

Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates·
  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
  • ALEC Rich States Poor States·
  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/States/Maryland

2026 edition·Northeast·Pop. 6,265,347·Capital Annapolis·7th state, admitted 1788·Cook PVI D+15

Is Maryland a Good Place to Live? Maryland Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes

Maryland ranks #31 of 50 with a composite score of 53.6 and a C+ grade, strongest in economy (#6) and weakest in livability (#46). The median household earns $102,905 (27% above the national median), homes typically cost $428,308 (16% above the national average), and violent crime is 358 per 100,000 (9% above the national average).

Editor's verdict
Montgomery County is the reason Maryland's median household income sits at $102,905, 27% above the national median, and it is where a federal salary or a biotech job makes the state work. What that paycheck runs into is a commute of 32.3 minutes (#49) and a tax burden of 10.04% that starts taking its cut at the county line.
Compare Maryland with its neighbors →Best cities in Maryland →How the score works →
Composite score
53.6C+
#31 of 50 · #11 in the Northeast
Top 10 in
Economy #6
Middle of the pack
Health #15, Environment #19, Education #31, Fiscal Health #35, Safety #37, Growth #37, Affordability #39, Outdoor Access #40
Bottom 10 in
Transportation #45, Livability #46
NumbersNumbersScorecardScoresCostCostTaxesTaxesSafetySafetyJobsJobsSchools & healthSchoolsMovingMovingCitiesCitiesBest forBest forNeighborsNeighborsFAQFAQ
Top ↑

Maryland by the numbers

Six measures every state is judged on, each with Maryland's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.

Median household income
$102,905
#3 of 50, 1 = highest · US $80,903
Typical home value
$428,308
#35 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US $368,697
Cost of living index
105
#44 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US 100
Violent crime per 100K
358
#34 of 50, 1 = safest · US 328
Unemployment rate
4%
#27 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 3.95%
Total tax burden
10.04%
#42 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 8.74%

Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.

→Read the Maryland overview

Maryland scores above the national average in 3 of 11 categories and ranks #11 of 11 states in the Northeast, behind 10 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is median household income ($102,905, 27% above the national median); its biggest shortfall is typical home value ($428,308, 16% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (2) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.

What stands out
  • Median household income of $102,905 is #3 in the country, carried by the federal workforce in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
  • 5% of commuters ride transit (#5) and 15.6% work from home, yet the mean commute is still 32.3 minutes, #49 of 50.
  • The Chesapeake splits a dense western shore from a rural Eastern Shore, and FEMA scores natural-hazard risk at 0.0, the lowest of any state.

Where does Maryland rank in each category?

All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Maryland is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 2.

CategoryScoreRankGradeWeightUS avgThe numbers behind it
Economy65.3#6 of 50A15%47.1Its unemployment rate is 4% and median household income is $102,905.
Safety60.3#37 of 50C12%68.9The FBI estimates 358 violent crimes and 1,819.7 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Health63.6#15 of 50B+12%54.4Life expectancy is 77.8 years, 32.7% of adults have obesity, and 6.3% of residents are uninsured.
Education55.5#31 of 50C+12%57.5Eighth graders average 268 in NAEP math and 258 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 86.3%.
Affordability50.3#39 of 50C10%65.2Typical home value $428,308 (4.2x median income); cost of living index 105 (100 = US); center-based infant care $20,124 a year.
Fiscal Health55.0#35 of 50C8%58.1It carries $4,350 of debt per resident, has 75% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating.
Growth29.8#37 of 50C7%38.8Population grew 0.32% last year; Census net domestic migration is -1.9 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series).
Transportation40.9#45 of 50D7%49.8The average commute is 32.3 minutes, 5% of workers use public transit, and 15.6% work from home.
Livability21.7#46 of 50D7%34.3It has 1.666 restaurants and 0.023 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.067 bars and 0.082 social associations per 1,000.
Outdoor Access11.8#40 of 50C6%29.47.9% of its land is public, with 1.91 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents.
Environment46.1#19 of 50B4%42.5Its median air quality index is 40, 12% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 0.

Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.

Category shape

Maryland's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Maryland bulges toward economy and dips at livability.

How expensive is Maryland?

Maryland's cost of living index is 105 against a national baseline of 100, 5% above the national average and #44 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $428,308 (16% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $116,485, $13,580 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Baltimore is cheapest (index 104.5) and Potomac priciest (108.9).

Housing market snapshot · August

Cool market
Typical home value
$428,308
0.0% in 1 yr · +13.5% in 5 yr · national $369K
Mortgage payment
$2,204/mo
P&I, 20% down, current rates
Income needed
$116K
median earns $103K (+13%)
Rent, Baltimore
$1,948/mo
renting cheaper by $111 vs. a $2,059 metro payment
Price cuts · days
29% · 37
national 26% · 53 days

Ranked #16 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #22 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $13,580 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.

Full Maryland housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →

What a household keeps at $75,000

HouseholdMarylandMedian stateRank
Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare−$30,684−$11,758#39 of 50
Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare+$26,870+$31,418#36 of 50
Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax+$30,111+$35,970#38 of 50

Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.

Electricity price
19.48¢/kWh
#38 of 50 · US 17.84¢/kWh
Natural gas price
$16.14/Mcf
#28 of 50 · US $15.83/Mcf
Gasoline price
$3.32/gal
#33 of 50 · US $3.32/gal
Price level for goods
102.5
#42 of 50 · US 100
Center-based infant care, per year
$20,124
#40 of 50 · US $15,633
Editor's note

Living costs in Maryland run 5% above the national average on the index, and the spread inside the state is wide. Bethesda and Potomac price like the expensive coasts; Baltimore City, Dundalk and Glen Burnie do not. Because incomes are high, the price-to-income ratio of 4.2x is kinder than the national 4.6x. The bills newcomers miss are childcare at $20,124 and the county income tax stacked on the state one. A family of four earning $75,000 is left with a $30,684 shortfall, $18,926 below the national median; a single adult with a $26,870 surplus.

  • Run your own budget for Maryland →
  • Maryland housing market →
  • Housing rankings →

What are taxes like in Maryland?

Maryland's tax mix is high income tax, low sales tax, with property tax in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 10.04% of income, 1.3 points above the national average (#42 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 1.02% of home value (#30), and combined sales tax averages 6% (#11).

Total tax burden
10.04%
#42 of 50 · US 8.74%
Top income tax rate
8.95%
#43 of 50 · US avg 5.46%
Effective property tax
1.02%
#30 of 50 · US 1.02%
Combined sales tax
6%
#11 of 50 · US 6.66%

Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.

Can the state pay its bills?

Credit rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's
Rainy-day fund
7.5%
of spending · #39 of 50
Pensions funded
75%
of obligations · #25 of 50
Debt per resident
$4,350
state debt · #40 of 50

Fiscal health scores 55 out of 100, #35 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.

Editor's note

Maryland's tax mix is high income tax, low sales tax, with property tax in the middle of the pack, and the surprise is the county layer: every county and Baltimore City add their own income tax to the state rate. For a high earner that is the whole story. For a retiree the picture is softer: Social Security is not taxed and there is a pension exclusion, though Maryland is the one state with both an estate and an inheritance tax. Homeowners get a property rate of 1.02%, in line with the national average, plus a homestead credit that caps assessment growth.

  • Fiscal health rankings →
  • Best states for retirees →

Is Maryland safe?

Maryland reports 358 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 9% above the national average and #34 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,820 per 100,000, 19% above the national average (#43 of 50). The safety score is 60.3 out of 100, #37 of 50; among tracked cities, Rockville has the lowest violent crime rate.

Maryland vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents

Violent crime#34 of 50
MD
358
US
328
Property crime#43 of 50
MD
1,820
US
1,535

FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.

Safest tracked cities in Maryland

CityPopulationViolent / 100KProperty / 100K
Rockville67,6711081,267
Bowie57,9262051,951
Gaithersburg69,8252161,047
Frederick83,3953901,572
Baltimore573,2431,3514,009

Lowest violent crime among the 20 Maryland cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.

Editor's note

Maryland's violent crime rate of 358 per hundred thousand is 9% above the national average, and most of that gap is Baltimore City. Take the city out and the suburban counties look like the rest of the Mid-Atlantic: Rockville records the lowest violent crime rate among tracked cities, and Montgomery and Howard counties sit close to it. Property crime, at 1,820, is 19% above the national average. The statewide number describes almost nobody's block; check county, then neighborhood.

  • Safety rankings →
  • Best states for families →

What is the job market like in Maryland?

Maryland's unemployment rate is 4%, in line with the national average and #27 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $102,905, 27% above the national median. Real GDP grew +2.3% in the latest year (#18 of 50) and GDP per capita is $68,357, 6% above the national average. The population is growing 0.32% a year, 0.2 points below the national average. The economy score is 65.3 out of 100, #6 of 50.

Median household income
$102,905
#3 of 50 · US $80,903
Unemployment rate
4%
#27 of 50 · US 3.95%
GDP per capita
$68,357
#16 of 50 · US $64,333
Real GDP growth
+2.3%
#18 of 50 · US +1.91%
Population growth
+0.32%
#34 of 50 · US +0.51%

Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.

Highest-paying tracked occupations in Maryland, adjusted for cost of living

OccupationCost-adjustedMedian wageMetro
Family Medicine Physicians$235,537$244,958Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Lawyers$152,749$158,859Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Software Developers$129,584$134,767Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Computer Systems Analysts$106,653$110,919Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
General & Operations Managers$97,222$101,111Baltimore-Columbia-Towson

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.

Editor's note

Federal money is the engine. NIH and the FDA in Montgomery County, the NSA at Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Patuxent River's naval air station, and the contractors that ring each of them keep unemployment at 4% (#27 lowest). Baltimore runs on Johns Hopkins, the port and the hospitals. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson is where family medicine physicians earn $244,958, the best cost-adjusted wage of any tracked metro. Beyond the corridor, on the Eastern Shore and in the western counties, the job market is thin and wages fall fast.

  • Economy rankings →
  • Wages by occupation and metro →

How are Maryland's schools and healthcare?

Maryland's education score is 55.5 out of 100, #31 of 50. Eighth graders average 268 in NAEP math (#38 of 50) and 258 in reading (#21 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 86.3%, 0.7 points above the national average (#26 of 50).

Education score
55.5
#31 of 50 · US 57.5
Graduation rate
86.3%
#26 of 50 · US 85.6%
NAEP math, grade 8
268
#38 of 50 · US 273 · grade 4: 234
NAEP reading, grade 8
258
#21 of 50 · US 257 · grade 4: 216

Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate

CityGrad rateStudents / teacherPer pupil
Waldorf94%15.9$17,415
Columbia93%12.5$19,256
Ellicott City93%14.7$19,256

NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.

Editor's note

Maryland runs schools by county, so quality varies by neighborhood, not district line. Montgomery and Howard county schools are the reason many families pay Bethesda and Columbia prices. Waldorf in Charles County posts the highest tracked graduation rate. Statewide the rate is 86.3%, and eighth-grade math at #38 holds schools to #31; Baltimore City lags well behind. The Blueprint funding overhaul pushes money toward districts that need it.

  • Education rankings →

Maryland is #15 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 77.8 years, 0.9 years above the national average. 32.7% of adults have obesity (#19 of 50) and 6.3% of residents have no health insurance (#18 of 50). The health score is 63.6 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.

Health score
63.6
#15 of 50 · US 54.4
Life expectancy
77.8 years
#20 of 50 · US 76.9 years
Adults with obesity
32.7%
#19 of 50 · US 34%
Uninsured
6.3%
#18 of 50 · US 7.6%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.

Editor's note

Maryland ranks #15 for health and life expectancy is 77.8 years, 0.9 years above the national average. Access is the strength: Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland system in Baltimore, NIH in Bethesda, and a hospital density most states cannot match. Baltimore City and the lower Eastern Shore trail the Washington suburbs by years of life expectancy, and the western counties are a long drive from a trauma center.

  • Health rankings →

Who is moving to Maryland, and who is leaving?

Maryland lost a net 13,628 households to other states in the latest IRS release: 83,281 moved in and 96,909 moved out, -2.2 per 1,000 residents (#46 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $80,821 against $88,251 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +5.6K people (164.3K in, 158.7K out, ±15.5K), pointing the other way, so treat the direction as uncertain.

Households moving in
83,281
top origin Virginia
Households moving out
96,909
top destination Virginia
Net per 1,000 residents
-2.2
#46 of 50 · -13,628 households
Avg income, arrivals
$80,821
leavers $88,251 · leavers earn more

Where they come from

  1. 1Virginia13,353 · $87,911
  2. 2District of Columbia9,213 · $101,617
  3. 3Pennsylvania7,619 · $72,615
  4. 4Florida5,941 · $79,339
  5. 5New York5,840 · $74,130

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.

Where they go

  1. 1Virginia15,079 · $83,051
  2. 2Florida9,442 · $140,169
  3. 3Pennsylvania8,992 · $73,860
  4. 4District of Columbia7,688 · $74,585
  5. 5North Carolina5,264 · $83,045

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.

Editor's note

Maryland loses households on net: 83,281 arrived and 96,909 left, a net of -13,628 (#45 of 50). The exchange with Virginia runs both ways and roughly cancels; the real drain is toward Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Departing households report $88,251 against $80,821 for arrivals, consistent with retirees and mid-career earners cashing out of expensive counties. The state is expensive to stay in once the paycheck stops.

  • All Maryland migration flows →
  • State-by-state migration →

Where should you live in Maryland?

By composite score, the best of the 20 Maryland cities we track are Bethesda (76.7), Ellicott City (74.3), and Potomac (72.9). Baltimore is the cheapest (cost index 104.5), Potomac the richest ($236,675), and Frederick the fastest growing (+3% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Maryland cities we cover, not every city in the state.

Standout cities in Maryland

Best forCityMeasure
SafestRockville108 violent crimes per 100K
CheapestBaltimorecost of living index 104.5
Most walkableBethesdawalkability 14.3 of 20
Cleanest airColumbiamedian AQI 33 (county)
Best schoolsWaldorf94% graduation rate
RichestPotomac$236,675

Among the 20 Maryland cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.

Editor's note

Regions of Maryland

Montgomery County and the Washington suburbs

Federal agencies, biotech and the state's highest incomes; the most expensive housing in Maryland, Metro access, and commutes that still run long.

RockvilleBethesdaGaithersburgPotomacNorth BethesdaGermantownSilver SpringAspen HillWheaton
Baltimore metro

Baltimore City has the cheapest big-city housing in the region and carries most of the state's crime; Towson, Columbia and Ellicott City are the suburban counterweight.

BaltimoreTowsonDundalkGlen BurnieColumbiaEllicott CitySevernBel Air South
Prince George's and Southern Maryland

Bowie and Waldorf are the more affordable side of the Washington orbit, with long drives and the naval air station at Patuxent River anchoring the far end.

BowieWaldorf
Frederick and Western Maryland

Frederick is the fastest-growing tracked city and the last stop of the Washington commute; past Hagerstown the state turns Appalachian, cheap and slow.

Frederick
Eastern Shore

Farms, poultry, the Ocean City summer economy and the lowest incomes in the state, separated from everything else by the Bay Bridge backup.

All 20 tracked cities, best to worst

#CityGradeScorePopulationIncomeViolent / 100KCost index
1Bethesda
A+
76.769,397$192,237—108.9
2Ellicott City
A+
74.375,257$156,964—104.5
3Potomac
A+
72.945,902$236,675—108.9
4North Bethesda
A+
72.149,677$129,092—108.9
5Columbia
A+
71.5104,338$131,490—104.5
6Rockville
A+
71.467,671$128,649108108.9
7Gaithersburg
A+
68.269,825$112,467216108.9
8Germantown
A+
67.590,719$117,546—108.9
9Severn
A
66.058,402$134,423—104.5
10Bel Air South
A
64.958,137$123,653—104.5
11Bowie
A
64.857,926$141,995205108.9
12Frederick
A
63.583,395$97,069390108.9
13Silver Spring
A
63.281,462$99,860—108.9
14Wheaton
A
63.052,926$111,478—108.9
15Aspen Hill
B+
62.853,279$111,575—108.9
16Towson
B+
61.858,679$101,320—104.5
17Waldorf
B
56.782,943$116,089—108.9
18Glen Burnie
B
56.672,590$88,280—104.5
19Baltimore
D
48.0573,243$62,1771,351104.5
20Dundalk
D
45.565,969$64,520—104.5

Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Maryland cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.

Best cities in Maryland for…

#CityScoreEducationSafetyAffordability
1Gaithersburg70.373.885.646.7
2Rockville70.269.090.836.1
3Ellicott City70.074.3—42.1
4Columbia69.578.7—49.4
5Bethesda68.766.4—24.5
All Maryland cities for families →Best states for families →
  • All 1,312 cities →

Who is Maryland best for?

The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Maryland cities for each.

Families
#38of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Retirees
#36of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Remote Workers
#40of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Young Professionals
#34of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Small Business
#31of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#36of 50
Best Maryland cities →
Maryland fits
  • Federal and biotech workers: unemployment is 4% and the highest cost-adjusted wage among tracked metros is $244,958 for family medicine physicians.
  • Car-light households near a Metro line: 5% of commuters already ride, #5 nationally.
  • Home-office workers who want broadband and a coast: 15.6% work from home and 94.4% of households have broadband.
Maryland does not fit
  • Families on one middle income: infant childcare costs $20,124 and a family of four at $75,000 is left with a $30,684 shortfall.
  • High earners chasing a low tax bill: the top income rate is 8.95% before the county adds its share.
  • Anyone who wants to live in the mountains: public land covers 7.9% of the state and outdoor access ranks #40.

Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →

How does Maryland compare with its neighbors?

Maryland ranks #31. Among its bordering states, Virginia ranks highest (#15) and West Virginia lowest (#44). Delaware is the most similar on the composite score and Virginia the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.

StateOverallScoreMedian incomeTypical homeCost indexViolent crimeTax burdenCompare
Maryland#3153.6$102,905$428,30810535810.04%
Virginia#1567.7$92,090$414,662101.12068.86%Compare →
Pennsylvania#2556.9$77,545$290,40197.62278.58%Compare →
Delaware#3053.6$87,534$406,07499.83476.52%Compare →
West Virginia#4442.8$60,798$179,49689.52428.85%Compare →
United States—57.9$80,903$368,6971003288.74%

Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.

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Other Northeast states
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  • Vermont#8
  • Maine#9
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  • Connecticut#16
  • Rhode Island#19
  • New Jersey#28
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Editor's note

The Maryland-versus-Virginia argument is a Washington commuter ritual. Virginia has the lower tax burden and the lower crime rate; Maryland has the higher incomes and, on the Montgomery side, the easier train ride downtown. Pennsylvania draws Baltimore-area buyers north for cheaper houses, and Delaware's lack of a sales tax makes it the region's shopping trip.

  • Compare Maryland with any state →

How the score works

Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.

The weights

Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.

From raw numbers to scores

Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.

Cities, budgets and neighbors

The 20 Maryland city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.

Editor's notes

Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.

Always the latest release

Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.

What the score cannot tell you

Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.

Category briefs

Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →

Key takeaways

What the Maryland numbers say when read together.

  1. 01

    Economy is Maryland's strongest suit

    Maryland is a #31 state overall but #6 of 50 for economy, 25 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 65.3 against a national average of 47.1. Health (#15) is next. Economy carries 15% of the composite.

  2. 02

    Livability is where Maryland falls furthest behind

    Maryland ranks #46 of 50 for livability, 15 places below its overall #31, with a score of 21.7 against a national average of 34.3. At 7% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.

  3. 03

    Median household income is 27% above the national median

    Maryland's median household income is $102,905, 27% above the national median of $80,903, #3 of 50 (1 = highest). The largest gap in the other direction is typical home value: $428,308, 16% above the national average. Source: Census Bureau ACS, latest release.

  4. 04

    More households leave than arrive

    Maryland ranks #46 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (-2.2). The households arriving report $7,430 less in average income than those leaving ($80,821 against $88,251), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount shrinks. Virginia is both the largest source and the largest destination.

  5. 05

    A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states

    A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $30,684 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#39 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $26,870 surplus; a retiree couple at a $30,111 surplus. Infant childcare runs $20,124 a year, 29% above the national average.

  6. 06

    Maryland sits 4th among its 5-state neighborhood

    3 of Maryland's 4 bordering states rank above its #31; the closest match on the composite is Delaware. Median income among them runs from $60,798 in West Virginia to $92,090 in Virginia; Maryland is at $102,905.

Editor's note

The tradeoff

+A median income of $102,905 makes Maryland one of the best-paid states in the country.

−The tax burden of 10.04% (#42) takes a bigger bite of it than almost anywhere.

+5% of commuters use transit, with Metro, MARC and light rail reaching the big job centers.

−The mean commute is still 32.3 minutes, the second-longest in the country.

+FEMA rates Maryland's natural disaster risk at 0.0, the lowest of 50 states.

−Flash flooding in older river towns like Ellicott City is the hazard that index misses.

Frequently asked questions about living in Maryland

Is Maryland a good place to live?

Maryland ranks #31 of 50 with a C+ grade, #11 of 11 in the Northeast. It is top 10 in economy and bottom 10 in transportation and livability. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 1 of 6 (income) and trails on home prices, cost of living, violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.

Where does Maryland rank among US states?

Maryland ranks #31 of 50 overall with a composite score of 53.6 (grade C+), and #11 of 11 states in the Northeast. Its best category rank is #6 (economy) and its worst #46 (livability). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so C+ means rank 27–34.

Is it expensive to live in Maryland?

At #44 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Maryland is 5% above the national average: its index is 105 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $428,308 (16% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $116,485 against a median household income of $102,905. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $30,684 shortfall after all costs, #39 of 50 (1 = most left over).

Does Maryland have a state income tax?

Yes. Maryland's top state income tax rate is 8.95% (#43 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 10.04% of income, 1.3 points above the national average. Property tax is 1.02% of home value and combined sales tax 6%.

What is the crime rate in Maryland?

Maryland reports 358 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 9% above the national average and #34 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,820 property crimes per 100,000, 19% above the national average (#43). Its safety score is 60.3 out of 100, #37 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.

Does Maryland have good schools?

Maryland is #31 of 50 for education (score 55.5 out of 100). Its public school students average 268 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#38) and 258 in eighth-grade reading (#21), and the high school graduation rate is 86.3%, 0.7 points above the national average (#26). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Waldorf has the highest graduation rate at 94%.

Why are people leaving Maryland?

Maryland lost a net 13,628 households in the latest IRS release: 83,281 moved in and 96,909 moved out, -2.2 per 1,000 residents (#46 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Virginia (13,353 households) and the most common destination is Virginia (15,079). Arriving households report an average income of $80,821 against $88,251 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.

Is Maryland a red or blue state?

Maryland is a solidly blue state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+15, meaning it votes about 15 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.

Is Maryland cheaper than Virginia?

No, by a little. Maryland's cost index is 105 against a slightly lower figure across the Potomac, and the tax burden of 10.04% is heavier than Virginia's. Home values are close enough that the choice usually comes down to commute and taxes rather than sticker price. Where Maryland wins is income: the median household earns $102,905, #3 in the country.

What are the downsides of living in Maryland?

Cost and commute. The tax burden is 10.04%, childcare runs $20,124 a year, and the mean commute of 32.3 minutes is the second-longest in the country. Livability ranks #46, dragged down by that commute and thin outdoor access. Baltimore City's crime pulls the statewide rate to 9% above the national average, though it stays concentrated. And the Bay Bridge on a summer Friday is its own kind of tax.

Is Maryland a good place to retire?

Middling, at #36 for retirees. Social Security is untaxed and there is a pension exclusion, and the hospitals are among the country's best. Against that, a retiree couple at $75,000 comes out at a $30,111 surplus, $5,859 below the national median, and the estate and inheritance taxes are a real consideration for anyone with a paid-off house. The Eastern Shore and the Frederick side are where the arithmetic works best.

Do I need a car in Maryland?

Depends on the county. Inside the Beltway and along Metro's Red Line through Silver Spring, Bethesda and Rockville, plenty of people manage without one, and 5% of commuters statewide use transit. Baltimore has light rail and a subway line, but most of its metro area drives. Everywhere else, including the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland and anything west of Frederick, a car is not optional.

Is Maryland good for remote workers?

Yes on the infrastructure, less so on the price. 15.6% of workers are already at home (#9 nationally) and 94.4% of households have broadband. The catch is that you'd be paying Washington-orbit housing and a tax burden of 10.04% without needing the Washington job that justifies them. Frederick, Hagerstown and the upper Eastern Shore are where remote income stretches furthest inside the state.

What is the weather like in Maryland year-round?

Four real seasons with a humid summer. The Washington and Baltimore suburbs get hot, sticky Julys and a handful of snow days a winter; the Eastern Shore is milder and windier; Garrett County in the far west gets lake-effect snow measured in feet. Hurricanes rarely land directly, but their remnants bring the floods, and Ellicott City's Main Street has been rebuilt after two of them.

All the numbers

Every metric behind Maryland's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.

Median Household Income
$102,905
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: $80,903
Unemployment Rate
4%
BLS LAUS · Nat'l avg: 3.9%
Population Growth
+0.32%
Census, year over year · Nat'l avg: +0.5%
65.3Economy Score · National avg: 47.1
Violent Crime Rate
358
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 313
Property Crime Rate
1,819.7
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 1,475
60.3Safety Score · National avg: 68.9
Life Expectancy
77.8 yr
CDC NCHS · Nat'l avg: 76.9 yr
Adults With Obesity
32.7%
CDC BRFSS · Nat'l avg: 34%
Uninsured
6.3%
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 7.6%
63.6Health Score · National avg: 54.4
HS Graduation Rate
86.3%
EDFacts · Nat'l avg: 85.6%
NAEP Math, 8th Grade
268
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 273
NAEP Reading, 8th Grade
258
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 257
55.5Education Score · National avg: 57.5
GDP Per Capita
$68,357
BEA · Nat'l avg: $64,333
GDP Growth Rate
+2.3%
Real, year over year · Nat'l avg: +1.9%
Credit Rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's, latest
Fiscal Score
55.0
of 100 · Nat'l avg: 58.1
Budget Balance
+1.8%
Surplus · % of revenue · NASBO
State Debt Per Capita
$4,350
Census state finances · Nat'l avg: $3,506
Rainy Day Fund
7.5%
of expenditures · Pew Fiscal 50
Pension Funded Ratio
75%
Pew · Nat'l avg: 74.3%
Tax Burden
10.04%
of income · Nat'l avg: 8.74%
Income Tax Rate
8.95%
Top rate, state + local
Property Tax Rate
1.02%
Effective rate · Nat'l avg: 1.02%
Sales Tax Rate
6%
State + local avg · Nat'l avg: 6.66%
55.0Fiscal Health Score · National avg: 58.1
Typical Home Value
$428,308
Latest month · Nat'l avg: $383,360
Cost of Living Index
105
BEA Regional Price Parity · National = 100
Price-to-Income Ratio
4.2x
Home value ÷ median income · Nat'l avg: 4.6x
Electricity
19.48¢/kWh
EIA
Natural Gas
$16.14/Mcf
EIA
Gasoline
$3.32/gal
EIA
Infant Care (Center)
$20,124/yr
Child Care Aware of America
Goods Prices
102.5
BEA price level for goods · US = 100
50.3Affordability Score · National avg: 65.2
Air Quality Index
40
EPA annual median · Nat'l avg: 38.8
Renewable Energy
12%
EIA, % of electricity · Nat'l avg: 29%
Natural Disaster Risk
0
FEMA NRI per capita · Nat'l avg: 30
46.1Environment Score · National avg: 42.5
Public Land
7.9%
of state area · USGS PAD-US
Recreation Facilities
1.91
per 10K residents · Census CBP
Park Acreage per Capita
0.01
NPS acres per resident
11.8Outdoor Access Score · National avg: 29.4
Mean Commute Time
32.3 min
Mean travel time to work · Census ACS
60+ Min Commute
14.5%
of workers · Census ACS
Drive Alone
66.4%
of commuters · Census ACS
Public Transit Use
5%
of commuters · Census ACS
Walk / Bicycle
2.6%
active commuters · Census ACS
Work From Home
15.6%
of workers · Census ACS
Vehicle Miles Traveled
9,135
per capita · FHWA
Carpool Rate
8.7%
of commuters · Census ACS
40.9Transportation Score · National avg: 49.8
Restaurants per 1K
1.666
Census County Business Patterns
Arts & Entertainment
0.023
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Social Associations
0.082
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Bars & Breweries
0.067
per 1K residents · Census CBP
21.7Livability Score · National avg: 34.3
Net Domestic Migration
-1.9
per 1,000 residents · Nat'l avg: +1.1
Migration Trend
Stable
Roughly balanced migration
Broadband Subscription
94.4%
Households, any type · Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 92.7%
Households Moving In
83.3K
Top origin: Virginia
Households Moving Out
96.9K
Top destination: Virginia
29.8Growth Score · National avg: 38.8

Also consulted for the Maryland editor's notes

  • Comptroller of Maryland, local and county income tax rates ↗