Fruitland grades D overall, 249th of 259 graded towns in Maryland, mostly because of schools. Its public schools trail 80% of Maryland towns on state tests and graduation. In its favor, natural-hazard risk is low. Fruitland’s average trip to work is 17 minutes, below both the Maryland town median (32 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 31 of Maryland’s 328 towns score lower on walkability. The biggest park or preserve is Fruitland Recreational Park Annex, at 21 acres.

StrongestA⁻Hazard riskWeakestC⁻Schools C⁻Cost of living CWalkability

What makes Fruitland stand out

Where Fruitland beats most towns.

Natural hazardsA⁻

Low risk of storm and flood damage

FEMA National Risk Index.

A growing town

Fruitland has grown 23% since 2010

4,866 counted in 2010 and 5,534 in 2020; an estimated 6,007 in 2025.

Growth hasn’t slowed: 8.6% since 2020, after 13.7% in the decade before.

4,8662010

5,5342020

6,0072025 est.

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025

How Fruitland grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Fruitland is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities; hurricanes tops the listA⁻Open →SchoolsC⁻Open →Cost of livingC⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 2.1% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SafetyC⁺Open →Jobs & income$64K median household incomeC⁺Open →HealthTidalhealth Peninsula Regional 3.5 miles awayBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landC⁺Open →HistoryCOpen →Civic life3.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.4; 37% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Fruitland: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Fruitland, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerDelmarva Power21.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Fruitland water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Fruitland’s trash rules yet

SchoolsWicomico County Public SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereWicomico County Board of ElectionsWicomico County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019

ZIP codes21826, 2180421826 97% · 21804 3%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 Fruitland.

Fruitland is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it has seen reported crime rise by about half and has poverty well above the Maryland rate.

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

Homes in Fruitland are worth about $253K, by Zillow’s estimate

69.8% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.5% across Maryland.

The typical Fruitland home is worth about $253,000, up 0.8% in a year, 40% below the Maryland typical home. Fruitland’s median rent is $1,586 a month.

$253KZillow home value

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$1,586 a month	$1,810 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	68%	74%	73%

Typical home value

Fruitland$253K

Maryland$425K

+0.8%

value change, 1 year

Full pageFruitland’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 0.8% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.0 years of income Rents$1,586 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsC⁻

Fruitland earns a C− for schools

Its public schools are run by the Wicomico County Public Schools. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

20%of MD districts it outscoresC⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Bennett MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	963	B⁻
Stepping Stones Learning Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12	Grades PK–12	122	–

Full pageFruitland’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsWicomico County Public Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Every school4 schools · Bennett Middle Questions“Are Fruitland’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MD on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁻

Hurricanes leads a low hazard risk in Fruitland

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 79% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Fruitland since 2013.

21risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

HurricanesInland floodingCold waves

paid flood claims since 2013

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageFruitland’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claimsSince 2013 Past disasters4 federal disasters · Paid out in Fruitland Get ready0.2 events a year, on average · Ready for hurricanes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

About one in three of Fruitland’s working residents commute to Salisbury

The average commute for its 2,080 working residents takes 17.1 minutes, against 31.1 across Maryland.

Most working residents leave Fruitland for work: only 4% work in town. 20% of residents live below the poverty line in Fruitland. Jobs based in Fruitland grew to 1,529 in 2023, 160 more than in 2013.

4%work in town

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	20%	7%	9.6%
Median household income	$64,000	$113,000	$80,000
Work from home	9.2%	18%	11%
Working residents who work in town	3.6%	3.1%	8%

Where working residents work

In Fruitland4%

Salisbury32%

Baltimore3%

Ocean City2%

Snow Hill1%

7 mi

median commute distance

1,529

jobs based in Fruitland

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 27% of U.S. towns

Full pageFruitland’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here1,529 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work4% work in Fruitland Commute times17 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 7 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

In Fruitland, expect four seasons and hot summers

Fruitland has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Fruitland is 89°F.

8″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter29–49°

Spring44–67°

Summer65–86°

Fall48–70°

Oct 30

typical first frost

Apr 10

typical last frost

+1.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageFruitland’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 89°, January lows 27°Rain & snow8″ of snow a winter · 46 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

More children than Maryland overall

19.9% of residents live below the poverty line, against 9.4% across Maryland, which weighs on its C+ for jobs and income.

Children under 18 are 30% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (40% statewide). 13% of Fruitland residents are 65 or older. Fruitland has grown 8.6% since 2020, to 6,007 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

32.4median age · MD 39.4

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Median age	32.4 years	39.4 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	13%	16%	18%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	37%	42%	29%

FruitlandMarylandUnited States

MDU.S.

Ages · share of residents

22%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma6%

High school37%

Some college13%

Associate’s6%

Bachelor’s22%

Graduate15%

Women and men · all residents

56% women, 44% men

About 79 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.2 points). Across Maryland, 51.3% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Fruitland
	Fruitland	MD	U.S.
Under 10	21.8%	11.9%	11.6%
10 to 17	8.6%	10.3%	10.3%
18 to 24	12.9%	8.5%	9.1%
25 to 34	12.2%	13.2%	13.7%
35 to 44	11.9%	13.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	10.7%	12.6%	12.2%
55 to 64	9.4%	13.3%	12.7%
65 to 74	9.2%	9.9%	10.2%
75 and older	3.4%	6.8%	7%
No diploma	6.2%	8.9%	10.4%
High school	37.2%	23.4%	26%
Some college	13.4%	17.4%	19.1%
Associate’s	6.4%	6.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	22.2%	22.7%	21.6%
Graduate	14.5%	20.8%	14.1%

Full pageFruitland by the numbersOpen the page

Ages32.4 median age · 13% are 65 or older Schooling37% have a four-year degree Homes68% own their home · Homeowners Income$64K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

SafetyC⁺

Crime per resident in Fruitland is higher than in 63% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes rose from 78 to 123 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Within Maryland, it does better than 65% of towns.

37%of U.S. towns report more crimeC⁺Safety Grade

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	18.2 per 1,000 residents	13.8	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2 per 1,000 residents	2.4	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Fruitland2

Maryland3.7

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Fruitland18.2

Maryland18.5

U.S.15.5

37th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

65th

percentile among MD towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

111

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageFruitland’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsUp since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighbor Questions“Is Fruitland, MD safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthB

On CDC estimates, Fruitland is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns

Against the 9,738 U.S. towns with household incomes like Fruitland’s, it is healthier than 83%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Within Maryland it is less healthy than 68% of the 261 graded towns: Maryland sets a high bar.

Fruitland beats the Maryland average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.

61%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	40%	36%	35%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	81%	79%	79%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	17%	15%	17%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	21%	20%	23%

32 measures vs. Maryland

3 better25 too close to call4 worse

What stands out	Fruitland	MD
Fewer adults who have had cancer	6.5%	7.6%
Fewer adults with heart disease	5.1%	5.8%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	13.8%	9.9%

Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional

3.5 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

32nd

percentile among MD towns

Full pageFruitland’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby3.5 miles to an ER · Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than MD on 3 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsC⁺

Conserved land covers 1.5% of Fruitland

1.2 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Among 248 Maryland towns, just 9 have a lower share of conserved land than Fruitland.

#164for trails in MD

	Fruitland	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Conserved land	1.5%	9.5%	4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile	0.3 miles per square mile	0.6	0.4

1.5%

conserved · 35 of 2,398 acres

1.2 mi

of trails · 0.3 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Fruitland Recreational Park Annex	0.8 mi	21
2. Fruitland Recreational Park	0.4 mi	21

Full pageFruitland’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map1.2 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.8 miles of trail · Fruitland Recreational Park Annex Conserved land1.5% conserved · 35 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Fruitland?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fruitland

19pages on Fruitland

The big questions

SchoolsC⁻Behind 80% of MD districts · 4 schools SafetyC⁺2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than MD on 3 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$253K typical home · up 0.8% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$64K median household income · 1,529 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁻FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · hurricanes

Out and about

OutdoorsC⁺1 mi of trails · 2% conserved land PlacesAttractions27 nearby · Salisbury University Arboretum 2 mi LibraryC⁻Wicomico County Free Library - Main Library CollegesSalisbury University is 2.3 mi away

The story

HistoryCSettled 1873 Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 140 residents Climate89° summer highs · 8″ of snow

Day to day

News6 recent stories about Fruitland WeatherHandbookZIP code 21826 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

3 within 15 miles of the center of Fruitland

Salisbury UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Salisbury2.3 mi$11,084 in-state tuition Wor-Wic Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Salisbury7.9 mi$3,840 in-state tuition University of Maryland Eastern ShoreUniversity or college · Public · Princess Anne8.4 mi$9,076 in-state tuition

About 10 of every 100 Fruitland residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Maryland.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

96% of working residents leave Fruitland for work

Where Fruitland’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

1,529jobs based in Fruitland

4%of working residents work in town

7 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Fruitland

City in Maryland, United States

Official town website ↗

Fruitland is a city in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,534 at the 2020 census Area.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1947
Area: 3.9 sq mi
Elevation: 36 ft
ZIP code: 21826
Area code: 410, 443

Fruitland’s neighbors

One town shares a border with Fruitland.

Explore the map →

SalisburyFruitland

Salisbury

NE · 32% of Fruitland workers commute here

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	MD rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Fruitland	#249	D	C⁻	C⁺	C⁻	B
Salisbury	#256	D⁻	C⁻	D	C⁻	C⁻

Compare Fruitland with a neighbor →

Questions about Fruitland

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Fruitland, MD a good place to live?

Fruitland grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #249 of 259 in Maryland. It grades B for health, C+ for safety and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Fruitland, MD safe?