Lake Shore Plaza, Green Haven, Maryland, 2008
Lake Shore’s story
138 years in pictures
The archive holds 13 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1893 on.
- 1888Lake Shore is settled
Lake ShoreMD
A town settled in 1888, now home to 18,249 people.
3 bordering townsMap →
Hancock's Resolution · Photo: Pubdog · Public domain
Population
18,249
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$474K
Census ACS
Household income
$131K
median
Median age
42.1
years
Jobs based here
2,949
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#129 of 259 in MD
What should you know before moving to Lake Shore?
Real strengths, and real weak spots. At B overall, Lake Shore ranks 129th of 259 in Maryland. Set against the rest, it does better than 63% of U.S. towns. On incomes it is strong — the median household earns $131K. What counts against it is cost of living (C) — the typical home is worth about $474K, 4.8 years of the Baltimore metro’s $99K median household income. It also trails on walkability. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 68% of U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Magothy Greenway, 365 acres with 5.5 miles of trail.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Lake Shore stand out
Where Lake Shore beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Lower risk than 97% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
32 measures vs. Maryland
11 better18 too close to call3 worse
| Widest gap | Lake Shore | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.5% | 13.5% |
HealthA−
Healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Lake Shore for work
Where Lake Shore’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,949jobs based in Lake Shore
6%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Lake Shore grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Lake Shore is from typical.
Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listA+Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentAOpen →HealthLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center 7.4 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.2 of 20; 1% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 305 attractions →White House and 265 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lake Shore. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw32 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw34 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw34 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw32 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw15 mi Stadium & arenaM&T Bank StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · M&T Bank Stadium: United States Department of Defense Cherie Cullen, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Lake Shore: who provides what
Lake Shore is unincorporated, so Anne Arundel County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerBaltimore Gas & Electric20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGlen Burnie-Broadneck water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesAnne Arundel CountyAnne Arundel 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 hereAnne Arundel County Board of ElectionsAnne Arundel County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code2112221122 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 Lake Shore.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Lake Shore faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Lake Shore’s FEMA hazard score is 3 of 100, below both the Maryland town median (6 of 100) and the median of U.S. towns (44 of 100). Since 1979, 110 flood insurance claims have been paid out here. Expected losses in Lake Shore break down as 44% from inland flooding and 10% from hurricanes.
3risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesHeat waves
110
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB−
Lake Shore’s public schools trail 52% of Maryland districts
Public schools: the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The largest public high school is Chesapeake High, with 1,540 students. Below: Two of its 4 schools, each with why it was picked.
48%of MD districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,087 | B+ |
| Chesapeake HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,540 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MD on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA−
Lake Shore has set aside 10.7% of its land for conservation
Across 7 parks and preserves: 16 miles of trail. Lake Shore’s trail network density is 0.9 miles per square mile, against 0.6 in Maryland’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
#75for trails in MD
10.7%
conserved · 1,206 of 11,221 acres
16 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Magothy Greenway | 5.5 mi | 365 |
| 2. Lake Shore Athletic Complex | 3.2 mi | 154 |
| 3. Beachwood Park | 0.5 mi | 48 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA−
On CDC estimates, Lake Shore is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Its widest gap with Maryland is housing insecurity: 8.5% of its 15,300 adults worry about keeping their housing, against 13.5% statewide. Against the 4,463 U.S. towns with household incomes like Lake Shore’s, it is less healthy than 55%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
For adults 18 to 64 in Lake Shore, the share who have no health insurance is 6.1%. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Lake Shore is ahead of Maryland on 11 and behind on 3. A fifth of adults in Lake Shore get no exercise outside work; 9.7% worry about having enough food.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Lake Shore | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 23% | 25% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
11 better18 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Lake Shore | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.5% | 13.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.7% | 15.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.7% | 7.6% |
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
7.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
64th
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most of Lake Shore’s workers commute out: the town has 0.3 jobs for each of them
For most workers, Lake Shore is a place to come home to: only 6% work in town. Jobs based in Lake Shore grew to 2,949 in 2023, 218 more than in 2013. The average commute for Lake Shore comes to 31 minutes. Half of commuters travel less than 14 miles.
6%work in town
| Lake Shore | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $131,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 15% | 18% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Lake Shore6%
Baltimore12%
Glen Burnie7%
Parole5%
Columbia4%
14 mi
median commute distance
2,949
jobs based in Lake Shore
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 32% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
19″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–46°
Spring46–65°
Summer68–86°
Fall51–68°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 27
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Maryland overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (22% statewide). Lake Shore: 37% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. The median age in the town is 42.1 years.
42.1median age · MD 39.4
| Lake Shore | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 42% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 16% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 23% | 22% |
Lake ShoreMarylandUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school28%
Some college21%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.5 points. Across Maryland, 51.3% of residents are women. Median age: women 40.6, men 42.7.
| Lake Shore | MD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.3% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.5% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.9% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.4% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.9% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.1% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.8% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.1% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.5% | 8.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.1% | 23.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.8% | 17.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.2% | 6.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.5% | 20.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C
A home in Lake Shore sells for about $471K at the median
Homes sold in Lake Shore spent a median 38 days on the market. The share of households in Lake Shore who are owner-occupiers: 91%. For Lake Shore, the typical rent is $1,806 a month.
$471Kmedian sale price
| Lake Shore | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 91% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,806 a month | $1,810 a month | $1,185 a month |
Market temperature
38
days on market
99.1%
sale-to-list price
23
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lake Shore
17pages on Lake Shore
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Lake Shore
Anne Arundel Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Arnold3.2 mi$4,322 in-state tuitionSt. John's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Annapolis7.6 mi$40,684 tuitionUnited States Naval AcademyUniversity or college · Public · Annapolis7.7 mi
About 3 of every 100 Lake Shore residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Maryland.
About Lake Shore
Census-designated place in Maryland, United States
Lake Shore is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, located east of Pasadena. The population of Lake Shore was 19,477 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 18 sq mi
- Elevation
- 59 ft
Lake Shore’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Lake Shore.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its B; Pasadena (B+) is closest.
PasadenaSeverna ParkArnoldLake Shore
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Shore | #129 | B | C | — | B− | A− |
| Pasadena | #123 | B+ | C− | — | B− | A− |
| Severna Park | #79 | A− | C− | — | B− | A |
| Arnold | #100 | A− | C− | — | B− | A |
Lake Shore, Pasadena, Severna Park and Arnold report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Lake Shore with a neighbor →
Questions about Lake Shore
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lake Shore, MD a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Lake Shore grades B overall, better than 63% of U.S. towns and #129 of 259 in Maryland. It grades A− for health and B− for schools.
Is Lake Shore, MD expensive?
The typical home is worth about $474,000, 11% above the Maryland typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.