Towson, MD Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Towson, MD Summary

Cost of living in Towson research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Towson is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Maryland, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Towson is 127, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Towson is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Towson ranks as the #93 cheapest in Maryland out of 194.

  • Towson ranks as the #4,833 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Towson is $464,620.

  • The median income in Towson is $100,481.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
127
Towson's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Towson, MD?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Towson has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Maryland, Towson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maryland's index of 121.

The standard of living in Towson ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 194 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Towson ranks as the #101 most expensive place in the Old Line State.

For more reading on life in Towson, check out:

93 out of 194
In Maryland
4,833 out of 6,489
In America

Towson Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Towson. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Towson is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Towson is 107.

  • The Health index in Towson is 98.

  • The Housing index in Towson is 185.

  • The Transportation index in Towson is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Towson is 113.

Living Expense Towson Maryland National Average
Overall 127 121 100
Services 105 105 100
Groceries 107 107 100
Health 98 96 100
Housing 185 150 100
Transportation 102 99 100
Utilities 113 113 100
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Towson Cost of Living Vs. MD

Towson, MD Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Towson is $464,620.

  • The Median Rent in Towson is $1,784.

  • The Median Income in Towson is $100,481.

  • The Home Value To Income in Towson is 4.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Towson is 0.21x.

Statistic Towson Maryland United States
Median Home Value $464,620 $427,628 $303,400
Median Rent $1,784 $1,662 $1,348
Median Income $100,481 $101,652 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.6x 4.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.21x
$464,620
Median Home Value
$1,784
Median Rent
$100,481
Median Income

Towson, MD Costs By Category

Detailed Towson Services Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Towson Maryland
Shampoo $1.44 $1.28
Movie $13.69 $12.13
Bowling $23.03 $18
Haircut $28.33 $24.26
Beauty Salon $58.17 $45.56

Detailed Towson Groceries Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Towson Maryland
Ground Beef $6.23 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.73 $4.67
Potatoes $5.46 $4.93
Pizza $13.24 $12.09
Beer $10.36 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Towson Health Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Towson Maryland
Optometrist $114.22 $125.68
Doctor $133.22 $135.78
Dentist $117.22 $113.29

Detailed Towson Transportation Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Towson Maryland
Gasoline $3.46 $3.46
Tire Balancing $62.66 $59.92

Detailed Towson Utilities Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Towson Maryland
All Electricity $223.91 $193.99
Phone $199.62 $192.25

Towson SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9.5
Education
9
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Towson

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Towson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Baltimore, MD has a cost of living index of 103, 0.8x Towson.

  • Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 131, 1.0x Towson.

  • Bel Air South, MD has a cost of living index of 119, 0.9x Towson.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Towson
Baltimore, MD 577,193 103 0.8x
Columbia, MD 105,871 131 1.0x
Bel Air South, MD 57,702 119 0.9x
Pikesville, MD 34,253 125 1.0x
Pasadena, MD 32,717 128 1.0x
Bel Air North, MD 31,599 128 1.0x
Eldersburg, MD 30,626 127 1.0x
Parkville, MD 30,423 109 0.9x
Carney, MD 28,624 115 0.9x
Ilchester, MD 27,552 136 1.1x

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