The 10 Best Small Towns In Maryland For 2026


The best small towns in Maryland are Chevy Chase Village and Chevy Chase View for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

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 2026

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

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 2026

1. Chevy Chase Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,903
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,046,701 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

2. Chevy Chase View

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,063
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,493,700 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

3. Cabin John

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,179
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,289,768 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

4. Martin’s Additions

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,012
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,571,047 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

5. Chevy Chase

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,906
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,247,761 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

6. Somerset

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,088
Median Income: $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,816,446 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

7. Brookmont

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,671
Median Income: $247,150 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,392,882 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

8. Herald Harbor

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,430
Median Income: $147,778 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $612,577 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

9. New Market

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,603
Median Income: $202,872 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $596,174 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

10. Adamstown

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,025
Median Income: $195,625 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $665,450 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

11. Myersville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,358
Median Income: $149,726 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $555,813 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Leonar

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,808
Median Income: $153,819 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $588,733 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

13. Sykesville

Sykesville, MD

Source: Wikipedia User Acroterion | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,491
Median Income: $139,556 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $556,417 (32nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

14. University Park

University Park, MD

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,698
Median Income: $207,500 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $658,033 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

15. Riva

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,976
Median Income: $176,094 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $662,475 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

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 2020-2024 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 – 124 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 124, 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 eleventh 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, Chevy Chase View, Cabin John, Martin’s Additions, Chevy Chase, Somerset, Brookmont, Herald Harbor, New Market, and Adamstown.

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

  1. Perryman
  2. Hancock
  3. Eden

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 1,903 $250,001 2.6%
2 Chevy Chase View, MD 1,063 $250,001 1.2%
3 Cabin John, MD 2,179 $250,001 0.0%
4 Martin’s Additions, MD 1,012 $250,001 0.0%
5 Chevy Chase, MD 2,906 $250,001 3.1%
6 Somerset, MD 1,088 $250,001 2.3%
7 Brookmont, MD 3,671 $247,150 3.0%
8 Herald Harbor, MD 2,430 $147,778 1.8%
9 New Market, MD 1,603 $202,872 1.3%
10 Adamstown, MD 2,025 $195,625 1.2%
11 Myersville, MD 2,358 $149,726 0.0%
12 Leonar, MD 4,808 $153,819 2.1%
13 Sykesville, MD 4,491 $139,556 2.3%
14 University Park, MD 2,698 $207,500 4.5%
15 Riva, MD 4,976 $176,094 1.2%
16 Jefferson, MD 3,314 $150,854 2.5%
17 Owings, MD 2,643 $176,378 0.7%
18 Monrovia, MD 3,568 $207,153 2.2%
19 Dunkirk, MD 2,166 $149,271 2.0%
20 Kensington, MD 2,369 $152,284 6.2%
21 Crownsville, MD 1,756 $201,550 1.8%
22 Long Beach, MD 1,849 $126,683 0.0%
23 Bel Air, MD 1,837 $97,685 0.0%
24 Buckeystown, MD 1,192 $133,611 1.8%
25 Solomons, MD 2,440 $94,963 3.1%
26 Naval Academy, MD 3,006 $122,432 4.4%
27 Friendship Heights Village, MD 4,002 $119,384 3.5%
28 Point Of Rocks, MD 2,462 $159,708 4.0%
29 Gambrills, MD 2,830 $148,594 1.8%
30 Bartonsville, MD 3,282 $156,979 3.1%
31 Galesville, MD 1,062 $205,205 6.3%
32 Arden On The Severn, MD 1,761 $125,484 2.9%
33 Paramount-Long Meadow, MD 2,569 $122,262 2.6%
34 St. Michaels, MD 1,240 $78,265 7.6%
35 West Laurel, MD 4,428 $164,688 5.0%
36 Centreville, MD 4,761 $89,602 2.2%
37 Kingsville, MD 4,687 $128,563 0.5%
38 Pleasant Hills, MD 3,836 $166,339 3.6%
39 Spencerville, MD 1,028 $189,766 0.0%
40 Derwood, MD 1,984 $118,194 14.6%
41 Woodmore, MD 4,613 $184,286 6.9%
42 Braddock Heights, MD 2,892 $124,000 0.0%
43 Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 2,193 $125,069 3.4%
44 Lusby, MD 2,595 $151,711 0.7%
45 Woodsboro, MD 1,540 $116,964 2.5%
46 Keedysville, MD 1,183 $149,545 4.9%
47 Algonquin, MD 1,074 $76,500 0.0%
48 Rock Hall, MD 1,215 $74,597 1.3%
49 Huntingtown, MD 2,689 $185,313 5.8%
50 Berwyn Heights, MD 3,318 $146,591 4.4%
51 Boonsboro, MD 3,809 $95,956 2.6%
52 La Vale, MD 4,196 $77,500 3.3%
53 Charle, MD 1,999 $122,125 4.3%
54 Mechanicsville, MD 1,395 $120,966 1.9%
55 Hughesville, MD 2,098 $106,250 0.7%
56 Mount Vernon, MD 1,067 $113,938 0.0%
57 Jarrettsville, MD 2,560 $146,635 5.2%
58 Grasonville, MD 3,564 $120,676 1.6%
59 Chester, MD 4,797 $102,399 2.2%
60 Shady Side, MD 4,727 $153,661 4.4%
61 New Windsor, MD 1,400 $111,250 3.4%
62 North East, MD 4,134 $91,603 5.7%
63 St. James, MD 4,824 $97,361 1.4%
64 Colmar Manor, MD 1,566 $122,794 4.0%
65 North Beach, MD 2,296 $83,933 17.1%
66 Golden Beach, MD 3,830 $133,194 2.7%
67 Kingstown, MD 1,713 $93,625 3.2%
68 Baden, MD 2,325 $151,058 7.5%
69 Rising Sun, MD 2,764 $85,563 4.4%
70 Piney Point, MD 1,274 $129,018 5.2%
71 Smithsburg, MD 3,115 $100,673 4.1%
72 Croom, MD 2,418 $187,667 8.5%
73 Marlboro Meadows, MD 3,929 $111,313 3.1%
74 Drum Point, MD 3,589 $109,231 5.5%
75 National Harbor, MD 4,454 $109,707 8.9%
76 Queen Anne, MD 1,443 $102,727 19.2%
77 Perryville, MD 4,447 $77,733 4.2%
78 Funk, MD 1,076 $61,392 4.3%
79 Konterra, MD 3,641 $130,000 5.0%
80 Wilson-Conococheague, MD 1,663 $64,296 0.0%
81 Forest Heights, MD 2,642 $98,734 10.3%
82 Delmar, MD 4,261 $85,174 4.1%
83 Union Bridge, MD 1,055 $76,250 2.5%
84 Maugansville, MD 3,624 $79,019 1.6%
85 Libertytown, MD 1,346 $113,865 1.6%
86 Church Hill, MD 1,060 $72,425 0.4%
87 Andrews Afb, MD 3,130 $87,407 4.6%
88 Oakland, MD 2,254 $53,289 3.2%
89 Emmitsburg, MD 2,845 $81,250 0.9%
90 Hebron, MD 1,566 $97,841 3.0%
91 Indian Head, MD 4,055 $89,063 3.1%
92 Princess Anne, MD 3,569 $69,116 5.9%
93 Westernport, MD 1,588 $47,688 0.0%
94 Prince Frederick, MD 2,955 $80,391 2.2%
95 Capitol Heights, MD 4,020 $97,155 16.7%
96 Landover Hills, MD 2,031 $92,500 10.8%
97 Edmonston, MD 1,307 $78,333 12.4%
98 Pocomoke City, MD 4,405 $53,203 3.0%
99 Williamsport, MD 1,949 $61,607 11.9%
100 Brentwood, MD 3,777 $69,572 5.5%
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