The 10 Best Small Towns In Maryland For 2025


The best small towns in Maryland are Chevy Chase Village and Cabin John for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Maryland. Best sururbs in Maryland. Best counties in Maryland.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Old Line State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Maryland based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Maryland ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Maryland For 2025

  1. Chevy Chase Village
  2. Cabin John
  3. Chevy Chase View
  4. Somerset
  5. Brookmont
  6. Martin’s Additions
  7. Chevy Chase
  8. Riva
  9. Owings
  10. Herald Harbor
  11. New Market
  12. Leonar
  13. Adamstown
  14. Myersville
  15. Monrovia

Best Small Towns To Live In Maryland Map

What’s the best small town in Maryland? Chevy Chase Village is the best small town in Maryland based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Chevy Chase Village, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Old Line State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Maryland For 2025

1. Chevy Chase Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,860
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

2. Cabin John

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,096
Median Income: $222,500 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,293,900 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

3. Chevy Chase View

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,092
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,239,800 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

4. Somerset

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,020
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,820,800 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

5. Brookmont

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,825
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,280,700 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

6. Martin’s Additions

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,019
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,454,900 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

7. Chevy Chase

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,884
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,678,700 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

8. Riva

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,798
Median Income: $156,389 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $611,600 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

9. Owings

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,475
Median Income: $171,194 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $592,900 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

10. Herald Harbor

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,507
Median Income: $139,877 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $562,900 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

11. New Market

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,588
Median Income: $198,080 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $607,700 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

12. Leonar

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,712
Median Income: $148,276 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $528,100 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

13. Adamstown

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,381
Median Income: $198,993 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $585,000 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

14. Myersville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,464
Median Income: $144,840 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $457,900 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

15. Monrovia

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,924
Median Income: $234,712 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $761,600 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Maryland

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Maryland possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 120 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 120, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Maryland. Top of that list — Chevy Chase Village.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Maryland.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Maryland are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Maryland are Chevy Chase Village, Cabin John, Chevy Chase View, Somerset, Brookmont, Martin’s Additions, Chevy Chase, Riva, Owings, and Herald Harbor.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Maryland:

  1. Perryman
  2. Greensboro
  3. Federalsburg

For more Maryland reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Maryland

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Chevy Chase Village, MD 1,860 $250,001 2.8%
2 Cabin John, MD 2,096 $222,500 0.0%
3 Chevy Chase View, MD 1,092 $250,001 1.4%
4 Somerset, MD 1,020 $250,001 0.8%
5 Brookmont, MD 3,825 $250,001 4.1%
6 Martin’s Additions, MD 1,019 $250,001 0.8%
7 Chevy Chase, MD 2,884 $250,001 4.1%
8 Riva, MD 4,798 $156,389 1.3%
9 Owings, MD 2,475 $171,194 0.0%
10 Herald Harbor, MD 2,507 $139,877 2.6%
11 New Market, MD 1,588 $198,080 3.0%
12 Leonar, MD 4,712 $148,276 1.5%
13 Adamstown, MD 2,381 $198,993 1.1%
14 Myersville, MD 2,464 $144,840 0.8%
15 Monrovia, MD 2,924 $234,712 0.8%
16 Friendship Heights Village, MD 3,991 $110,199 1.2%
17 Solomons, MD 2,180 $89,205 1.4%
18 Dunkirk, MD 2,319 $166,471 0.6%
19 University Park, MD 2,636 $197,589 3.9%
20 Jefferson, MD 2,891 $145,664 2.4%
21 Crownsville, MD 1,701 $146,486 1.7%
22 Long Beach, MD 1,981 $137,969 0.0%
23 Kensington, MD 2,248 $149,698 6.4%
24 Sykesville, MD 4,346 $135,692 1.8%
25 Bel Air, MD 1,894 $87,636 0.0%
26 Arden On The Severn, MD 1,691 $117,188 3.5%
27 Buckeystown, MD 1,317 $141,250 3.3%
28 Pleasant Hills, MD 3,955 $143,068 1.2%
29 Hillandale, MD 4,901 $159,118 3.6%
30 Centreville, MD 4,725 $93,276 2.5%
31 Paramount-Long Meadow, MD 2,660 $101,763 4.1%
32 West Laurel, MD 4,231 $160,692 3.5%
33 Gambrills, MD 2,862 $151,667 2.6%
34 Bartonsville, MD 2,760 $146,641 3.0%
35 Kingsville, MD 4,790 $130,987 0.4%
36 Galesville, MD 1,206 $187,656 4.7%
37 Springdale, MD 4,476 $168,400 9.4%
38 Jarrettsville, MD 2,629 $161,510 4.6%
39 Point Of Rocks, MD 2,333 $136,827 4.8%
40 Golden Beach, MD 3,953 $140,313 2.2%
41 Huntingtown, MD 2,634 $177,870 5.1%
42 La Vale, MD 4,388 $77,634 2.8%
43 Charle, MD 2,037 $109,650 2.9%
44 Derwood, MD 1,830 $93,000 5.9%
45 Keedysville, MD 1,243 $143,611 4.0%
46 Braddock Heights, MD 2,606 $114,750 0.5%
47 Mechanicsville, MD 1,521 $115,556 0.0%
48 Algonquin, MD 1,027 $72,917 0.0%
49 St. Michaels, MD 1,381 $73,831 7.6%
50 Woodsboro, MD 1,394 $115,583 2.7%
51 National Harbor, MD 4,418 $133,616 4.1%
52 Berwyn Heights, MD 3,306 $145,833 5.1%
53 St. James, MD 4,581 $103,105 0.5%
54 Piney Point, MD 1,171 $114,271 7.3%
55 Woodmore, MD 4,710 $186,713 7.3%
56 Hughesville, MD 2,280 $122,981 1.6%
57 Baden, MD 1,968 $146,486 6.5%
58 Kingstown, MD 1,836 $90,288 3.0%
59 Rock Hall, MD 1,286 $68,906 1.3%
60 Queen Anne, MD 1,374 $112,292 17.7%
61 Shady Side, MD 4,460 $138,346 3.3%
62 Cobb Island, MD 1,162 $161,141 4.6%
63 Colmar Manor, MD 1,579 $104,074 4.1%
64 Princess Anne, MD 3,461 $50,000 1.2%
65 Rising Sun, MD 2,756 $85,750 5.5%
66 Boonsboro, MD 3,799 $93,730 3.7%
67 Morningside, MD 1,031 $80,000 6.7%
68 Potomac Heights, MD 1,102 $68,831 3.2%
69 North Beach, MD 2,769 $81,500 17.0%
70 Konterra, MD 3,212 $144,750 7.7%
71 Delmar, MD 4,058 $77,402 5.4%
72 Smithsburg, MD 3,069 $86,065 3.0%
73 Croom, MD 2,519 $176,758 7.0%
74 Marlboro Meadows, MD 4,003 $107,585 3.7%
75 Lusby, MD 2,161 $130,543 3.1%
76 Perryville, MD 4,425 $75,543 3.5%
77 Grasonville, MD 3,431 $111,842 2.3%
78 Chester, MD 4,539 $90,938 2.3%
79 New Windsor, MD 1,338 $111,731 5.5%
80 Emmitsburg, MD 2,855 $78,986 0.7%
81 Fairmount Heights, MD 1,429 $92,321 3.2%
82 Bowling Green, MD 1,096 $71,875 5.2%
83 North East, MD 4,095 $87,510 5.0%
84 Oakland, MD 2,043 $59,904 1.6%
85 Forest Heights, MD 2,619 $96,434 13.1%
86 Drum Point, MD 3,219 $133,059 6.6%
87 Libertytown, MD 1,368 $109,453 2.5%
88 Church Hill, MD 1,052 $69,688 0.4%
89 Hebron, MD 1,297 $75,625 1.9%
90 Brentwood, MD 3,753 $70,573 4.2%
91 Wilson-Conococheague, MD 1,614 $60,258 2.3%
92 Maugansville, MD 3,057 $75,840 4.8%
93 Edmonston, MD 1,332 $82,431 12.0%
94 Capitol Heights, MD 4,014 $91,938 9.2%
95 Williamsport, MD 2,133 $58,590 4.7%
96 Landover Hills, MD 1,996 $91,250 8.7%
97 Indian Head, MD 3,982 $84,898 4.2%
98 Seat Pleasant, MD 4,515 $54,076 26.2%
99 Cottage City, MD 1,162 $78,456 5.9%
100 Melwood, MD 3,734 $83,917 7.3%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings