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 2026.
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 2026
What’s the best place to retire in Maryland for 2026? According to the latest data, Annapolis is the best place to retire in Little America for 2026.
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 Annapolis 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 2026
/10
Population: 40,720
Median Income: $113,860
Median Home Price: $618,837
Median Rent: $1,860
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Annapolis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,683
Median Income: $121,208
Median Home Price: $481,282
Median Rent: $1,559
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on La Plata: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,308
Median Income: $74,653
Median Home Price: $451,055
Median Rent: $1,197
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Easton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,152
Median Income: $47,323
Median Home Price: $266,443
Median Rent: $1,058
Distance to Closest Airport: 53 miles
More on Cambridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,994
Median Income: $105,817
Median Home Price: $404,054
Median Rent: $1,416
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Havre De Grace: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 67,671
Median Income: $128,649
Median Home Price: $618,892
Median Rent: $2,274
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on Rockville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,804
Median Income: $48,162
Median Home Price: $152,202
Median Rent: $741
Distance to Closest Airport: 84 miles
More on Cumberland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 57,926
Median Income: $141,995
Median Home Price: $524,117
Median Rent: $2,330
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Bowie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,445
Median Income: $86,219
Median Home Price: $462,868
Median Rent: $1,476
Distance to Closest Airport: 33 miles
More on Westminster: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 573,243
Median Income: $62,177
Median Home Price: $188,101
Median Rent: $1,331
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Baltimore: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Old Line State for 2026
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 Annapolis, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Annapolis.
The best places to retire in Maryland are Annapolis, La Plata, Easton, Cambridge, Havre de Grace, Rockville, Cumberland, 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 | Annapolis | 40,720 | $113,860 | $618,837 | $1,860 |
| 2 | La Plata | 10,683 | $121,208 | $481,282 | $1,559 |
| 3 | Easton | 17,308 | $74,653 | $451,055 | $1,197 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 13,152 | $47,323 | $266,443 | $1,058 |
| 5 | Havre De Grace | 14,994 | $105,817 | $404,054 | $1,416 |
| 6 | Rockville | 67,671 | $128,649 | $618,892 | $2,274 |
| 7 | Cumberland | 18,804 | $48,162 | $152,202 | $741 |
| 8 | Bowie | 57,926 | $141,995 | $524,117 | $2,330 |
| 9 | Westminster | 20,445 | $86,219 | $462,868 | $1,476 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 573,243 | $62,177 | $188,101 | $1,331 |