Maryland is your state if your retirement requirements include safe, affordable housing, fun stuff to do, and fresh Chesapeake Bay blue crab.
We’ve created the ultimate guide for people looking to retire in the Old Line State. We produced a list of the best places to retire in Maryland for 2025.
To determine Maryland’s cream of the crop, we looked at several important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent and the distance to the closest national airport for every place with over 10,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 22 cities.
We discovered that Maryland’s best places to retire are close to the state’s biggest cities, Baltimore and Frederick. Additionally, many of Pennsylvania’s best places to retire are also some of the state’s safest.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maryland For 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Maryland for 2025? According to the latest data, La Plata is the best place to retire in Little America for 2025.
To see how your favorite places in Maryland compare, look at the list below, and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
Why did La Plata take the top spot? And where are Baltimore and Frederick?
For more Maryland state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maryland For 2025
/10
Population: 10,470
Median Income: $121,707
Median Home Price: $405,200
Median Rent: $1,483
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on La Plata: Data
/10
Population: 40,744
Median Income: $104,257
Median Home Price: $510,200
Median Rent: $1,855
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Annapolis: Data
/10
Population: 17,202
Median Income: $73,460
Median Home Price: $348,400
Median Rent: $1,177
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Easton: Data
/10
Population: 14,857
Median Income: $106,798
Median Home Price: $348,800
Median Rent: $1,314
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Havre De Grace: Data
/10
Population: 13,094
Median Income: $46,261
Median Home Price: $254,400
Median Rent: $971
Distance to Closest Airport: 53 miles
More on Cambridge: Data
/10
Population: 18,938
Median Income: $47,819
Median Home Price: $120,800
Median Rent: $728
Distance to Closest Airport: 84 miles
More on Cumberland: Data
/10
Population: 67,218
Median Income: $122,384
Median Home Price: $658,300
Median Rent: $2,244
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on Rockville: Data
/10
Population: 57,771
Median Income: $141,831
Median Home Price: $442,000
Median Rent: $2,240
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Bowie: Data
/10
Population: 20,257
Median Income: $79,431
Median Home Price: $318,100
Median Rent: $1,410
Distance to Closest Airport: 33 miles
More on Westminster: Data
/10
Population: 577,193
Median Income: $59,623
Median Home Price: $219,300
Median Rent: $1,290
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Baltimore: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Old Line State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Maryland to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Old Line State — 508 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 22 places from across the state.
For these 22, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 22, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case La Plata, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Maryland.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Maryland Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Maryland goes to La Plata.
The best places to retire in Maryland are La Plata, Annapolis, Easton, Havre de Grace, Cambridge, Cumberland, Rockville, Bowie, Westminster, and Baltimore.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Greenbelt
- Laurel
- Frederick
For more Maryland reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Maryland
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Plata | 10,470 | $121,707 | $405,200 | $1,483 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 40,744 | $104,257 | $510,200 | $1,855 |
| 3 | Easton | 17,202 | $73,460 | $348,400 | $1,177 |
| 4 | Havre De Grace | 14,857 | $106,798 | $348,800 | $1,314 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 13,094 | $46,261 | $254,400 | $971 |
| 6 | Cumberland | 18,938 | $47,819 | $120,800 | $728 |
| 7 | Rockville | 67,218 | $122,384 | $658,300 | $2,244 |
| 8 | Bowie | 57,771 | $141,831 | $442,000 | $2,240 |
| 9 | Westminster | 20,257 | $79,431 | $318,100 | $1,410 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 577,193 | $59,623 | $219,300 | $1,290 |