Ida May · National Register of Historic Places
Chance’s story
144 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1882Chance is settled
ChanceMD
With 230 residents, this town was settled in 1882.
2 bordering townsMap →
Ida May · Photo: Linda Roy Walls · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
230
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$259K
Census ACS
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
58.5
years
Jobs based here
7
A commuter town
Is Chance a good place to live?
Chance’s median age is 58.5 years, above both Maryland’s towns (39.4 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Among 262 Maryland towns, just one has a higher owner-occupancy rate than Chance. 17% of the land in Chance is conserved, against 9.5% in Maryland’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Chance has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Ida May and Rock Creek Methodist Episcopal Church. Chance has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
By the sea
Chance lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 61% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
61%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
100thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
2storm & flood disasters paid out here
On the water
- Deal Island Wildlife Management Area
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
Getting set up
Moving to Chance: who provides what
Chance is unincorporated, so Somerset County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDelmarva Power21.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet2 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSomerset CountySomerset County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Maryland you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSomerset County Board of ElectionsSomerset County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code2182121821 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Mar 11, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chance.
Natural hazards
Chance stands out in Maryland and nationally, with the FEMA risk score higher than most
Of the losses FEMA expects in Chance, 61% come from coastal flooding and 16% from hurricanes. Federal aid has come to Chance households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2012. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 98% of U.S. communities.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Coastal floodingHurricanesWildfire
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
With 0.1 jobs for every working resident, most of Chance’s workers commute out
The mean commuting time for Chance comes to 37 minutes. The top destinations are Salisbury (22%), Princess Anne (7%) and Crisfield (4%). Half of commuters travel less than 23 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Chance0%
Salisbury22%
Princess Anne7%
Crisfield4%
Fruitland4%
23 mi
median commute distance
7
jobs based in Chance
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Outdoors
Chance keeps 16.6% of its land conserved
The biggest park or preserve is Deal Island Wildlife Management Area, at 264 acres.
16.6%conserved
16.6%
conserved · 273 of 1,644 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Deal Island Wildlife Management Area | — | 264 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Chance has four seasons and hot summers
July afternoons reach 88° and January nights drop to 29°.
88°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–48°
Spring46–66°
Summer68–86°
Fall51–69°
Nov 7
typical first frost
Apr 3
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
88°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Compared with most of Maryland and the rest of the country, more of Chance’s adults report frequent physical distress
Chance beats the Maryland average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 25% of Chance adults say their health is fair or poor. Only 7 of the 262 Maryland towns we compare have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Chance.
| Chance | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 23% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
2 better18 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Chance | MD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83% | 76.6% |
| More adults getting a yearly checkup | 83% | 79.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.9% | 5.9% |
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional
22.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chance
16pages on Chance
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Chance
About 0 of every 100 Chance residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Maryland.
Small town
230 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Dames QuarterDeal IslandChance
About Chance
CDP in Maryland, United States
Chance is a census-designated place (CDP) in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. The population was 377 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3 ft
Questions about Chance
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chance, MD a good place to live?
Chance has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.