Annapolis, the state capital · Photo: Flickr user: high limitzz https://www.flickr.com/people/highlimitstudio/ · CC BY 2.0

Maryland · 260 graded towns

Towns and cities in Maryland

102 of Maryland’s 260 graded towns and cities (39%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns. Damascus ranks first in the state with an A+; hazard risk (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (B−) is its lowest.

Letters are national: the overall grade blends cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk. How grades work

How Maryland compares: report card Best places to live Best small towns Most affordable towns Safest towns Towns with the best schools Healthiest towns

260

towns of 2,500+ with an overall grade

102

grade A− or better nationally

of 2,500+ without enough data for a grade

smaller places (1,000–2,499) with subject grades

Towns by letter

A⁺25A46A⁻31B⁺25B27B⁻17C⁺23C32C⁻17D12D⁻5

All 260 graded towns, by county

Every town of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade, in 23 counties, A to Z inside each. The rank is among 259 Maryland towns on the best places to live list. A town that spans counties is listed in the one where most of it lies.

Find a town

260 graded towns, A to Z.

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Jump to a county (23)

Allegany County 4 graded

B⁺Cresaptownunincorporated, Allegany County#120 of 2595,121
C⁻Cumberland#241 of 25918,799
B⁺Frostburg#108 of 2596,979
A⁻La Valeunincorporated, Allegany County#92 of 2594,196

Anne Arundel County 25 graded

C⁺Annapolis#176 of 25940,634
B⁺Annapolis Neckunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#112 of 25912,032
A⁻Arnoldunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#100 of 25924,303
A⁻Brooklyn Parkunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#94 of 25916,067
B⁺Cape St. Claireunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#113 of 2599,236
B⁺Croftonunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#104 of 25929,549
B⁺Dealeunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#127 of 2595,333
B⁺Edgewaterunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#105 of 2598,519
BFerndaleunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#128 of 25917,529
BFort Meadeunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#135 of 25911,225
BGambrillsunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#133 of 2592,830
BGlen Burnieunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#138 of 25972,590
BJessupunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · also in Howard County#139 of 2599,931
BLake Shoreunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#129 of 25918,249
A⁻Linthicumunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#77 of 25911,313
B⁻Maryland Cityunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#155 of 25919,186
BMayounincorporated, Anne Arundel County#137 of 2598,694
A⁻Odentonunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#102 of 25945,002
A⁻Paroleunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#99 of 25917,229
B⁺Pasadenaunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#123 of 25934,309
B⁺Rivaunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#126 of 2594,976
A⁻Riviera Beachunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#89 of 25912,192
B⁺Severnunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#116 of 25958,402
A⁻Severna Parkunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#79 of 25940,228
B⁻Shady Sideunincorporated, Anne Arundel County#157 of 2594,727

Baltimore County 32 graded

B⁺Arbutusunincorporated, Baltimore County#109 of 25922,507
C⁻Baltimore Highlandsunincorporated, Baltimore County#231 of 2598,206
CBowleys Quartersunincorporated, Baltimore County#218 of 2597,006
C⁺Carneyunincorporated, Baltimore County#172 of 25928,343
BCatonsvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#131 of 25943,368
C⁺Cockeysvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#189 of 25923,962
CDundalkunincorporated, Baltimore County#221 of 25965,969
BEdgemereunincorporated, Baltimore County#148 of 2599,061
CEssexunincorporated, Baltimore County#196 of 25940,580
BGarrisonunincorporated, Baltimore County#145 of 2599,469
B⁺Hamptonunincorporated, Baltimore County#117 of 2595,372
BHoneygounincorporated, Baltimore County#134 of 25912,250
BKingsvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#142 of 2594,687
CLansdowneunincorporated, Baltimore County#206 of 2597,876
C⁺Lochearnunincorporated, Baltimore County#190 of 25927,074
B⁺Luthervilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#110 of 2596,574
BMays Chapelunincorporated, Baltimore County#136 of 25916,066
CMiddle Riverunincorporated, Baltimore County#216 of 25931,712
CMilford Millunincorporated, Baltimore County#202 of 25930,829
BOverleaunincorporated, Baltimore County#140 of 25913,035
B⁻Owings Millsunincorporated, Baltimore County#163 of 25937,245
BParkvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#144 of 25930,549
B⁺Perry Hallunincorporated, Baltimore County#122 of 25929,105
B⁻Pikesvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#156 of 25933,524
CRandallstownunincorporated, Baltimore County#204 of 25935,957
C⁺Reisterstownunincorporated, Baltimore County#193 of 25925,582
BRosedaleunincorporated, Baltimore County#149 of 25920,002
BRossvilleunincorporated, Baltimore County#152 of 25916,059
BTimoniumunincorporated, Baltimore County#143 of 25910,304
B⁻Towsonunincorporated, Baltimore County#165 of 25958,679
B⁻White Marshunincorporated, Baltimore County#160 of 25910,932
C⁺Woodlawnunincorporated, Baltimore County · another Woodlawn is in Prince George's County#181 of 25940,379

Baltimore city 1 graded

DBaltimore#251 of 259569,997

Calvert County 7 graded

A⁺Chesapeake Beach#24 of 2596,466
AChesapeake Ranch Estatesunincorporated, Calvert County#30 of 2599,241
A⁻Drum Pointunincorporated, Calvert County#81 of 2593,589
AHuntingtownunincorporated, Calvert County#32 of 2592,689
A⁺Lusbyunincorporated, Calvert County#13 of 2592,595
A⁺Owingsunincorporated, Calvert County#3 of 2592,643
A⁻Prince Frederickunincorporated, Calvert County#75 of 2592,955

Caroline County 2 graded

D⁻Denton#257 of 2595,075
DFederalsburg#254 of 2592,864

Carroll County 7 graded

AEldersburgunincorporated, Carroll County#33 of 25931,695
A⁺Hampstead#22 of 2596,281
A⁺Manchester#14 of 2595,426
A⁻Mount Airyalso in Frederick County#83 of 2599,857
A⁺Sykesville#20 of 2594,602
ATaneytown#70 of 2598,259
B⁺Westminster#115 of 25920,589

Cecil County 4 graded

D⁻Elkton#255 of 25916,670
CNorth East#194 of 2594,237
CPerryville#199 of 2594,592
CRising Sun#201 of 2592,761

Charles County 5 graded

CBensvilleunincorporated, Charles County#195 of 25915,848
BBryans Roadunincorporated, Charles County#146 of 2599,371
BIndian Head#153 of 2594,202
BLa Plata#130 of 25912,137
B⁻Waldorfunincorporated, Charles County#162 of 25982,943

Dorchester County 1 graded

D⁻Cambridge#259 of 25913,457

Frederick County 15 graded

ABallenger Creekunincorporated, Frederick County#31 of 25926,390
ABartonsvilleunincorporated, Frederick County#52 of 2593,282
ABraddock Heightsunincorporated, Frederick County#57 of 2592,892
A⁺Brunswick#8 of 2599,380
AEmmitsburg#27 of 2592,910
B⁺Frederick#114 of 25992,059
AGreen Valleyunincorporated, Frederick County#60 of 25913,602
A⁺Jeffersonunincorporated, Frederick County#9 of 2593,314
ALinganoreunincorporated, Frederick County#54 of 25914,444
A⁺Middletown#21 of 2595,056
AMonroviaunincorporated, Frederick County#63 of 2593,568
A⁺Spring Ridgeunincorporated, Frederick County#6 of 2595,922
A⁺Thurmont#12 of 2596,337
AUrbanaunincorporated, Frederick County#42 of 25914,260
A⁺Walkersville#2 of 2596,501

Harford County 12 graded

CAberdeen#214 of 25918,374
B⁺Abingdonunincorporated, Harford County#106 of 2595,019
B⁻Bel Airanother Bel Air is in Allegany County#158 of 25910,507
ABel Air Northunincorporated, Harford County#62 of 25931,302
ABel Air Southunincorporated, Harford County#67 of 25958,137
B⁺Edgewoodunincorporated, Harford County#119 of 25924,922
A⁻Fallstonunincorporated, Harford County#98 of 25910,013
B⁺Havre de Grace#107 of 25915,630
A⁻Jarrettsvilleunincorporated, Harford County#97 of 2592,560
AJoppatowneunincorporated, Harford County#59 of 25914,237
APleasant Hillsunincorporated, Harford County#68 of 2593,836
A⁺Riversideunincorporated, Harford County#5 of 2596,585

Howard County 8 graded

AColumbiaunincorporated, Howard County#36 of 259104,338
AElkridgeunincorporated, Howard County#49 of 25926,283
AEllicott Cityunincorporated, Howard County#50 of 25975,257
A⁺Fultonunincorporated, Howard County#16 of 2595,677
A⁺Ilchesterunincorporated, Howard County#23 of 25928,364
ANorth Laurelunincorporated, Howard County#28 of 25925,563
ASavageunincorporated, Howard County#61 of 2598,239
AScaggsvilleunincorporated, Howard County#43 of 25910,564

Kent County 1 graded

C⁻Chestertown#232 of 2595,658

Montgomery County 42 graded

A⁺Ashton-Sandy Springunincorporated, Montgomery County#4 of 2595,630
A⁻Aspen Hillunincorporated, Montgomery County#78 of 25953,279
ABethesdaunincorporated, Montgomery County#37 of 25969,397
A⁺Brookmontunincorporated, Montgomery County#17 of 2593,671
B⁺Burnt Millsunincorporated, Montgomery County#111 of 2593,751
ABurtonsvilleunincorporated, Montgomery County#38 of 25910,203
B⁻Calvertonunincorporated, Montgomery County · also in Prince George's County#159 of 25917,624
A⁺Chevy Chaseanother Chevy Chase is in Montgomery County#25 of 2592,804
AChevy Chaseunincorporated, Montgomery County · another Chevy Chase is in Montgomery County#44 of 2599,445
AClarksburgunincorporated, Montgomery County#45 of 25930,487
A⁻Cloverlyunincorporated, Montgomery County#73 of 25916,646
AColesvilleunincorporated, Montgomery County#29 of 25914,519
A⁺Damascusunincorporated, Montgomery County#1 of 25917,640
A⁻Darnestownunincorporated, Montgomery County#74 of 2597,051
A⁻Fairlandunincorporated, Montgomery County#72 of 25926,231
AFlower Hillunincorporated, Montgomery County#58 of 25913,794
A⁺Forest Glenunincorporated, Montgomery County#7 of 2596,840
A⁺Four Cornersunincorporated, Montgomery County#11 of 2598,150
AFriendship Heights Villageunincorporated, Montgomery County#35 of 2594,002
A⁻Gaithersburg#91 of 25971,113
A⁺Germantownunincorporated, Montgomery County#19 of 25990,719
AGlenmontunincorporated, Montgomery County#66 of 25917,208
B⁺Hillandaleunincorporated, Montgomery County · also in Prince George's County#118 of 2595,060
AKemp Millunincorporated, Montgomery County#46 of 25913,042
AKensington#56 of 2592,652
ALayhillunincorporated, Montgomery County#41 of 2595,497
A⁻Leisure Worldunincorporated, Montgomery County#95 of 2598,882
AMontgomery Villageunincorporated, Montgomery County#53 of 25934,110
ANorth Bethesdaunincorporated, Montgomery County#34 of 25949,677
A⁺North Kensingtonunincorporated, Montgomery County#10 of 2598,954
ANorth Potomacunincorporated, Montgomery County#48 of 25923,922
A⁺Olneyunincorporated, Montgomery County#18 of 25935,797
A⁺Poolesville#15 of 2595,942
APotomacunincorporated, Montgomery County#40 of 25945,902
ARedlandunincorporated, Montgomery County#26 of 25918,665
A⁻Rockville#86 of 25967,563
A⁻Silver Springunincorporated, Montgomery County#76 of 25981,462
ASouth Kensingtonunincorporated, Montgomery County#47 of 2598,148
BTakoma Park#150 of 25917,260
A⁻Travilahunincorporated, Montgomery County#80 of 25911,721
A⁻Wheatonunincorporated, Montgomery County#87 of 25952,926
B⁺White Oakunincorporated, Montgomery County#125 of 25917,329

Prince George's County 65 graded

CAccokeekunincorporated, Prince George's County#210 of 25914,362
C⁻Adelphiunincorporated, Prince George's County#234 of 25917,395
C⁺Andrews AFBunincorporated, Prince George's County#179 of 2593,130
CBeltsvilleunincorporated, Prince George's County#203 of 25919,176
C⁺Berwyn Heights#171 of 2593,338
DBladensburg#252 of 2599,671
C⁺Bowie#173 of 25958,383
CBrandywineunincorporated, Prince George's County#220 of 25912,160
DBrentwood#245 of 2593,828
C⁺Brock Hallunincorporated, Prince George's County#187 of 25913,615
BBrown Stationunincorporated, Prince George's County#132 of 2593,451
C⁺Camp Springsunincorporated, Prince George's County#174 of 25922,544
CCapitol Heights#197 of 2594,044
C⁻Cheverly#228 of 2596,164
C⁻Chillumunincorporated, Prince George's County#230 of 25934,871
C⁺Clintonunincorporated, Prince George's County#192 of 25938,376
B⁻College ParkCollege campus35,418
C⁻Coral Hillsunincorporated, Prince George's County#227 of 2599,756
C⁻District Heights#239 of 2595,938
C⁻East Riverdaleunincorporated, Prince George's County#240 of 25918,336
B⁻Fairwoodunincorporated, Prince George's County#166 of 2597,526
C⁺Forest Heights#183 of 2592,618
CForestvilleunincorporated, Prince George's County#198 of 25910,495
C⁺Fort Washingtonunincorporated, Prince George's County#185 of 25925,134
C⁺Friendlyunincorporated, Prince George's County#191 of 25911,119
C⁻Glassmanorunincorporated, Prince George's County#237 of 25916,981
BGlenarden#151 of 2596,422
B⁻Glenn Daleunincorporated, Prince George's County#170 of 25913,772
C⁻Greenbelt#235 of 25924,948
C⁺Hillcrest Heightsunincorporated, Prince George's County#186 of 25916,063
C⁻Hyattsville#242 of 25921,158
C⁺Ketteringunincorporated, Prince George's County#184 of 25914,014
CKonterraunincorporated, Prince George's County#213 of 2593,641
B⁻Lake Arborunincorporated, Prince George's County#169 of 25914,335
CLandoverunincorporated, Prince George's County#225 of 25924,514
DLangley Parkunincorporated, Prince George's County#248 of 25921,508
CLanhamunincorporated, Prince George's County#212 of 25911,433
C⁺Largounincorporated, Prince George's County#180 of 25912,229
C⁻Laurel#226 of 25930,254
CMarlboro Meadowsunincorporated, Prince George's County#224 of 2593,929
B⁻Marlboro Villageunincorporated, Prince George's County#161 of 2599,382
DMarlow Heightsunincorporated, Prince George's County#246 of 2595,456
CMarltonunincorporated, Prince George's County#222 of 25910,222
C⁻Melwoodunincorporated, Prince George's County#229 of 2593,401
C⁺Mitchellvilleunincorporated, Prince George's County#182 of 25911,359
DMount Rainier#247 of 2598,307
CNational Harborunincorporated, Prince George's County#215 of 2594,454
C⁻New Carrollton#236 of 25913,644
B⁻Oxon Hillunincorporated, Prince George's County#168 of 25917,893
BPeppermill Villageunincorporated, Prince George's County#154 of 2595,238
DRiverdale Park#250 of 2597,343
CRosaryvilleunincorporated, Prince George's County#211 of 25912,883
CSeabrookunincorporated, Prince George's County#207 of 25918,317
DSeat Pleasant#243 of 2594,524
CSilver Hillunincorporated, Prince George's County#205 of 2595,193
CSouth Laurelunincorporated, Prince George's County#208 of 25929,272
B⁻Springdaleunincorporated, Prince George's County#164 of 2595,226
CSuitlandunincorporated, Prince George's County#219 of 25923,793
CSummerfieldunincorporated, Prince George's County#200 of 25915,065
C⁻Temple Hillsunincorporated, Prince George's County#238 of 2598,969
CWalker Millunincorporated, Prince George's County#217 of 25910,931
B⁻West Laurelunincorporated, Prince George's County#167 of 2594,428
C⁺Westphaliaunincorporated, Prince George's County#177 of 25913,228
C⁺Woodlawnunincorporated, Prince George's County · another Woodlawn is in Baltimore County#175 of 2597,750
CWoodmoreunincorporated, Prince George's County#209 of 2594,613

Queen Anne's County 4 graded

A⁻Centreville#84 of 2594,782
A⁻Chesterunincorporated, Queen Anne's County#90 of 2594,797
B⁺Grasonvilleunincorporated, Queen Anne's County#124 of 2593,564
A⁻Stevensvilleunincorporated, Queen Anne's County#82 of 2598,802

Somerset County 2 graded

DCrisfield#253 of 2592,555
D⁻Princess Anne#258 of 2593,642

St. Mary's County 5 graded

ACaliforniaunincorporated, St. Mary's County#39 of 25913,136
AGolden Beachunincorporated, St. Mary's County#51 of 2593,830
A⁻Leonardtown#93 of 2595,033
A⁻Lexington Parkunincorporated, St. Mary's County#96 of 25913,252
AWildewoodunincorporated, St. Mary's County#64 of 2597,552

Talbot County 1 graded

C⁺Easton#188 of 25917,293

Washington County 9 graded

A⁻Boonsboro#88 of 2593,867
AFountainhead-Orchard Hillsunincorporated, Washington County#55 of 2596,567
DHagerstown#244 of 25944,228
C⁺Halfwayunincorporated, Washington County#178 of 25910,849
AMaugansvilleunincorporated, Washington County#71 of 2593,624
B⁺Paramount-Long Meadowunincorporated, Washington County#121 of 2592,569
BRobinwoodunincorporated, Washington County#147 of 2598,042
A⁻Smithsburg#85 of 2593,212
ASt. Jamesunincorporated, Washington County#69 of 2594,824

Wicomico County 3 graded

C⁻Delmar#233 of 2594,896
DFruitland#249 of 2596,007
D⁻Salisbury#256 of 25933,845

Worcester County 5 graded

B⁺Berlin#103 of 2595,335
BOcean City#141 of 2596,840
AOcean Pinesunincorporated, Worcester County#65 of 25912,351
CPocomoke City#223 of 2594,421
A⁻West Ocean Cityunincorporated, Worcester County#101 of 2595,198

Also in Maryland

Not on the ranked list

College campuses

Graded like every town, but left off the best-places lists: more than half the residents are college students (ACS), so its figures mostly describe student life. They appear on the subject lists with a “College campus” label.

B⁻College Park Prince George's County · 53% college students

Not graded (1)

Towns of 2,500+ without enough data for an overall grade. Their pages show every subject that is graded.

–Naval Academy Anne Arundel County · 3,006 people. No overall grade: no cost of living or safety figures, and the overall needs three of the four.

Smaller places 68 with 1,000–2,499 residents

These have subject grades (safety, schools, health and the rest) but no overall grade or rank: the overall starts at 2,500 residents.

Aberdeen Proving GroundHarford Co. · 2,193
AdamstownFrederick Co. · 2,025
AlgonquinDorchester Co. · 1,074
Arden on the SevernAnne Arundel Co. · 1,761
BadenPrince George's Co. · 2,325
Bel AirAllegany Co. · 1,837
Bowmans AdditionAllegany Co. · 1,102
BuckeystownFrederick Co. · 1,192
Cabin JohnMontgomery Co. · 2,179
Calvert BeachCalvert Co. · 1,074
Cedar HeightsPrince George's Co. · 2,213
CharlestownCecil Co. · 1,553
Charlotte HallSt. Mary's Co. · 1,172
Chevy Chase VillageMontgomery Co. · 1,978
Colmar ManorPrince George's Co. · 1,590
Cottage CityPrince George's Co. · 1,329
CroomPrince George's Co. · 2,418
CrownsvilleAnne Arundel Co. · 1,756
DerwoodMontgomery Co. · 1,984
DunkirkCalvert Co. · 2,166
EdenSomerset Co. · 1,053
EdmonstonPrince George's Co. · 1,621
Fairmount HeightsPrince George's Co. · 1,528
GalesvilleAnne Arundel Co. · 1,062
GreensboroCaroline Co. · 1,962
HancockWashington Co. · 1,581
HebronWicomico Co. · 1,119
Herald HarborAnne Arundel Co. · 2,430
Highfield-CascadeWashington Co. · 1,089
HughesvilleCharles Co. · 2,098
HurlockDorchester Co. · 2,123
KeedysvilleWashington Co. · 1,225
KingstownQueen Anne's Co. · 1,713
Landover HillsPrince George's Co. · 1,811
LibertytownFrederick Co. · 1,346
Long BeachCalvert Co. · 1,849
MechanicsvilleSt. Mary's Co. · 1,395
MorningsidePrince George's Co. · 1,232
Mount VernonSomerset Co. · 1,067
Mountain Lake ParkGarrett Co. · 2,101
MyersvilleFrederick Co. · 1,885
New MarketFrederick Co. · 1,609
New WindsorCarroll Co. · 1,749
North BeachCalvert Co. · 2,179
OaklandGarrett Co. · 1,808
PerrymanHarford Co. · 2,174
Piney PointSt. Mary's Co. · 1,274
PittsvilleWicomico Co. · 1,659
Point of RocksFrederick Co. · 2,462
Potomac HeightsCharles Co. · 1,351
Queen AnnePrince George's Co. · 1,443
QueenslandPrince George's Co. · 2,168
RidgelyCaroline Co. · 1,630
Rock HallKent Co. · 1,208
RomancokeQueen Anne's Co. · 2,064
Snow HillWorcester Co. · 2,237
SolomonsCalvert Co. · 2,440
SomersetMontgomery Co. · 1,151
SpencervilleMontgomery Co. · 1,028
St. MichaelsTalbot Co. · 1,083
Ten Mile CreekMontgomery Co. · 1,184
TrappeTalbot Co. · 1,517
University ParkPrince George's Co. · 2,440
WesternportAllegany Co. · 1,759
WillardsWicomico Co. · 1,018
WilliamsportWashington Co. · 2,112
Wilson-ConococheagueWashington Co. · 1,663
WoodsboroFrederick Co. · 1,136

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Lists in Maryland

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

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