Once Upon a Tree Lot (Unsplash), 2016
Ocean Pines’s story
Ocean Pines in pictures
Census counts: 4,251 in 1990, 12,145 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1901 on.
Explore the history →
Ocean PinesMD
A town of 12,351.
1 bordering townMap →
St. Martins Church · Photo: Linda Roy Walls · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
12,351
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$380K
Census ACS
Household income
$92K
median
Median age
62.4
years
Jobs based here
946
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#65 of 259 in MD
Is Ocean Pines a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Ocean Pines grades A overall, 65th of 259 graded towns in Maryland. It reports less crime per resident than 96% of U.S. towns. Its public schools beat 96% of Maryland towns on state tests and graduation and CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 77% of the country. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $380K, 4.6 years of the Ocean Pines area’s $82K median household income. 44% of residents are 65 or older in Ocean Pines, against 16% in Maryland’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. On hazard risk, just 20 of Maryland’s 329 towns do worse. Ocean Pines has 1 place on the National Register.
What makes Ocean Pines stand out
Where Ocean Pines beats most towns.
By the sea
Ocean Pines lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 14% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
32.9% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, so the town is fuller in summer than its census count suggests.
14%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
98thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
124paid flood-insurance claims since 1978
88thpercentile for hurricane risk
On the water
- Terns Landing Park
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
How Ocean Pines grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Ocean Pines is from typical.
SafetyA+Open →SchoolsA+Open →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthAtlantic General Hospital 4.7 miles awayA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 34% of U.S. communities; hurricanes tops the listB+Open →Jobs & income$92K median household incomeB−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.7 of 20; 4.7% of households have no car; 1.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−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 25 attractions →Assateague Island National Seashore and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Ocean Pines. Close and well known come first.
5 mi National SeashoreAssateague Island National Seashore2.3M visitors a year4 mi Theme parkJolly Roger Amusement Park
5 mi Theme parkTrimper's Rides
36 mi MuseumUSCGC Tamaroa
28 mi LandmarkFort Miles
23 mi Theme parkFunland (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Assateague Island National Seashore: Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Trimper's Rides: Mttbme, CC BY-SA 3.0 · USCGC Tamaroa: Unknown USCG member, Public domain · Fort Miles: Unknown, Public domain · Funland (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware): Tsole, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Getting set up
Moving to Ocean Pines: who provides what
Ocean Pines is unincorporated, so Worcester County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDelmarva Power21.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOcean Pines water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWorcester CountyWorcester 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 hereWorcester County Board of ElectionsWorcester County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code2181121811 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 Ocean Pines.
Ocean Pines sends most of its workers to Ocean City and beyond and sees little violent crime.
Who lives here
The median age in Ocean Pines is higher than in most of Maryland or the rest of the country
The median age in Ocean Pines is 62.4 years. Only 8 of the 261 Maryland towns we compare have a lower share of children under 18 than Ocean Pines. People 65 and older are 44% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 10% of residents (22% statewide).
62.4median age · MD 39.4
| Ocean Pines | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.4 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 12% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 42% | 29% |
Ocean PinesMarylandUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school23%
Some college26%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.3 points. Across Maryland, 51.3% of residents are women. Median age: women 62.8, men 61.9.
| Ocean Pines | MD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.2% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.8% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.4% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.1% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.7% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.3% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 25.4% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 18.8% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.9% | 8.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 22.9% | 23.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.5% | 17.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.2% | 6.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.2% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.2% | 20.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SafetyA+
Ocean Pines stands out in Maryland and nationally, with violent crime lower than most
Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Of the 55 Maryland towns we compare, none has a lower violent crime rate than Ocean Pines. Ocean Pines’ property crime rate is 2 per 1,000 residents.
96%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Ocean Pines | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 14.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Ocean Pines0.2
Maryland3.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Ocean Pines2
Maryland18.5
U.S.15.5
96th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
99th
percentile among MD towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
24
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthA−
Ocean Pines’ grade for health is an A−
26% of Ocean Pines adults sleep under 7 hours. Ocean Pines beats the Maryland average on 16 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 28% of Ocean Pines adults feel lonely.
77%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Ocean Pines | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 38% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 34% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 85% | 79% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
16 better9 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Ocean Pines | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.4% | 13.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.4% | 15.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.1% | 7.6% |
Atlantic General Hospital
4.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
56th
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most working residents commute out of Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines has 946 jobs for its 4,521 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here grew from 693 in 2013 to 946.
Most working residents leave Ocean Pines for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Ocean Pines has added 253 jobs, to 946 in 2023. 5.5% of residents live below the poverty line in Ocean Pines.
6%work in town
| Ocean Pines | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $92,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 17% | 18% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Ocean Pines6%
Ocean City13%
Salisbury10%
Berlin7%
West Ocean City6%
20 mi
median commute distance
946
jobs based in Ocean Pines
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 47% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB
2.6% of Ocean Pines is conserved land
4.2 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Veterans Memorial Park, at 42 acres.
#135for trails in MD
| Ocean Pines | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.6% | 9.5% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
2.6%
conserved · 152 of 5,772 acres
4.2 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Veterans Memorial Park | 0.9 mi | 42 |
| 2. White Horse Park | 0.9 mi | 30 |
| 3. Bainbridge Park | 0.5 mi | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines has mild winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 30° and about 10 inches of snow falls in a winter.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–48°
Spring46–63°
Summer67–84°
Fall52–69°
Nov 2
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Ocean Pines, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 66% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 124 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ocean Pines.
34risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCoastal flooding
124
paid flood claims since 1978
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ocean Pines
18pages on Ocean Pines
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ocean Pines; the nearest are
Wor-Wic Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Salisbury19.1 mi$3,840 in-state tuitionSalisbury UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Salisbury24.9 mi$11,084 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Ocean Pines residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Maryland.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Ocean Pines for work
Where Ocean Pines’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
946jobs based in Ocean Pines
6%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ocean Pines
CDP in Maryland, United States
Ocean Pines is a census-designated place (CDP) in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. According to the 2020 decennial census, Ocean Pines CDP's total population is 12,145. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. It shares the same ZIP code as Berlin. The community began as a small resort in 1968 and today is the largest residential community in Worcester County. It hosts the largest concentration of retirees on the Eastern Shore. During the summer months, Ocean Pines' population swells by more than 50 percent.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 10 ft
Ocean Pines’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Ocean Pines.
West Ocean CityOcean Pines
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Pines | #65 | A | C− | A+ | A+ | A− |
| West Ocean City | #101 | A− | C− | — | A+ | A− |
West Ocean City reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Ocean Pines with a neighbor →
Questions about Ocean Pines
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ocean Pines, MD a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Ocean Pines grades A overall, better than 87% of U.S. towns and #65 of 259 in Maryland. It grades A− for health, A+ for safety and A+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Ocean Pines, MD expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.