Welcome to the cheapest places to live in Maryland, where you’ll find affordability at the Mason Dixon line in the Old Line State.
Maryland’s affordable cities offer a range of lifestyle options. There are trendy cities like Baltimore and North Bethesda. Ocean City North and South provide affordable staycations. And for those who love the great outdoors, Chesapeake Bay cities like Rock Hall and Deale offer crabbing and fishing.
With Saturday Night Science, we analyzed factors such as the cost of living, home prices, and overall affordability to find the cheapest places to live in Maryland.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Maryland
What is the most affordable place to live in Maryland? The most affordable place to live in Maryland is Cumberland based on the cost of living adjusted for income.
If you care about home values, cost of living, and gold star quality of life, look at the list below to see where your Maryland dollar will let you live like a Baltimore Raven on a crabber’s salary.
Check out some more reading about Maryland and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland For 2025
/10
Population: 18,938
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $47,819
Median Home Price: $120,800
Median Rent: $728
Cumberland’s motto is “Come for a Visit, Stay for Life,” and that might just happen to you after you realize how inexpensive the city really is. Cumberland’s population has been slowly diminishing in recent years, which is great news for newcomers who can buy the cheapest homes in Maryland. And if you’re a cyclist, you’ll have all the free entertainment you’ll ever need journeying through the Great Allegheny Passage.
While the rent in Cumberland is the cheapest you’ll see on this list at at $728/month, that’s not what earned Cumberland the #1 spot on this list. It’s really because at a median price of $120,800 for homes and a median income of $47,819 for residents, the city has the best home price to income ratio in the state.
More on Cumberland: Data
/10
Population: 43,490
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 97
Median Income: $49,957
Median Home Price: $207,700
Median Rent: $1,041
Hagerstown, in Maryland’s Great Appalachian Valley, offers an affordable lifestyle with an overall cost of living index of 97. It has a $207,700 average home price that is the third lowest in the state, according to Zillow.
The city thrives as Washington County’s economic epicenter, coupling a low 8.33% unemployment rate with a $1,041 average rental price. That means you can have your blue crab and eat it too.
More on Hagerstown: Data
Town has little job opportunities and has some drug problems.9
Indian restaurant, good sushi, lots of stores.
/10
Population: 33,080
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $56,402
Median Home Price: $217,500
Median Rent: $1,247
Salisbury, nestled in eastern Maryland, ranks as the third most economical city in Maryland with a compelling mix of low living costs and a strong local economy. Housing costs propel it to its current ranking, including a modest $217,500 and attractive $1,247. Home prices are typically the big drivers in cost from town to town in Maryland.
Salisbury has an 98 overall cost of living index, which comes in 23 points lower than the state average. You’ll love the affordable things to do in town, like visiting the Salisbury Zoological Park for an afternoon with the kids.
More on Salisbury: Data
/10
Population: 13,094
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $46,261
Median Home Price: $254,400
Median Rent: $971
Cambridge, another city on the state’s Eastern Shore, is the fourth most affordable city in Maryland for 2025. A low 98 cost of living index complements a $254,400 average home price and a $46,261 average income.
The low cost of living in Cambridge makes it a “Charm on the Shore,” where you can visit DC or Baltimore for a long weekend without worrying about your wallet.
More on Cambridge: Data
Lived in Cambridge for years! Best little redneck town I have been too! Going to the wal mart was awesome you could stay there for hours people watching and never get bored!!
/10
Population: 7,025
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $51,052
Median Home Price: $172,600
Median Rent: $865
Cheap living and college students practically go hand in hand so it’s fitting that, Frostburg, our fifth most affordable place to live in Maryland is also where Frostburg State University is located.
We’re sure the area’s median rent rate of $865 is popular with pupils and long-term residents alike. The rate also happens to be the third best in Maryland. A rank that makes jumping into homeownership slightly less appealing. However, those who do put down roots here reap financial benefits as well. The area also ranks highly for its median home value, nabbing the No. 2.0 spot for best in the state.
And for all that money burning a hole in your pocket, Frostburg has a decent number of ways for you to spend it. Activities available range from dishing out a few bucks to load up on gas and drive to the nearby scenic spot of Dans Rock Overlook to getting a round of drinks–and maybe a bottle of wine or two — for the gang at Toasted Goat Winery.
More on Frostburg: Data
/10
Population: 5,698
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $64,352
Median Home Price: $211,200
Median Rent: $1,354
Fruitland, charming place to call your home, ranks as the sixth most affordable place to live in Maryland. With a median home value of $211,200 and a median rent of $1,354, it offers some of the most reasonable housing prices in the state.
It’s located a short drive away from Salisbury, making it easy to access all of the amenities that a larger town has to offer.
More on Fruitland: Data
/10
Population: 7,994
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $115,972
Median Home Price: $348,500
Median Rent: $1,139
When it comes to living on the cheap in Maryland, there’s basically nowhere better than Brunswick. The city may not have the cheapest homes or lowest rent in the state, but taken as a proportion of income, Brunswick has some of the most affordable housing statewide. Brunswick residents are paid quite well, with a median income of $115,972, which more than covers the median home price of $348,500 with plenty left to spare.
When you’re walking around the historic district sampling wine and chocolate, you’ll have an extra appreciation for Brunswick’s ritzy atmosphere costing so little.
Brunswick is located on the north bank of the Potomac River, across from Virginia.
More on Brunswick: Data
/10
Population: 577,193
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $59,623
Median Home Price: $219,300
Median Rent: $1,290
The biggest city in Maryland, Baltimore just makes the cut for cheapest places in the state.
Charm City has a whole lot of charm for those trying to live on a budget and still have the best dang blue crabs in the country. Historically a working-class port town, Baltimore has kept housing affordable for all its residents. But with over 50 neighborhoods, be warned that not everywhere is going to be equally cheap. If you end up living in Riverside, Inner Harbor or Fell’s Point, Baltimore’s affordability might not be as noticeable to you. The median home price in Baltimore is $219,300 and the median income is $59,623, putting the city in top ten statewide for home price to income ratio. As for renters, Baltimore is actually the least affordable place on this list.
More on Baltimore: Data
The city has a crime problem, but the citizens of Baltimore are actively working to make their city better. Inner Harbor is beautiful, of course, but the city as a whole is crammed with interesting places to eat and shop. Some of the markets are excellent for people-watching as well as shopping.
Patapsco flea market! Seafood! Ram’s Head Live! Reasonable parking rates!
/10
Population: 16,831
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $76,019
Median Home Price: $239,000
Median Rent: $1,339
The Northeast is notorious for sky-high costs of living and at times, Maryland, can be no exception. However, that’s not the case in Aberdeen. This community is only a 45-minute drive from Baltimore and is an affordable option for those who commute to bigger cities.
Unlike in pricier areas, the median home value here is only $239,000. A price tag that is affordable for those bringing in Aberdeen’s median household income of $76,019. If your budget is tighter, the area’s median rent rate of $1,339 isn’t bad too.
The community doesn’t just have family-friendly prices either, it also has plenty of family-friendly fun, like catching a baseball game at Ripken Stadium. And residents don’t have to worry too much about whether or not they’ll be able to afford tickets to the next game either, considering that Aberdeen has a 3.58% unemployment rate.
More on Aberdeen: Data
/10
Population: 15,867
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $56,565
Median Home Price: $271,700
Median Rent: $1,368
Elkton snuck onto the list of the least expensive locales in Maryland this year. With an overall cost of living index of 109, the city is cheap for Maryland but more expensive than the national average.
Relative to the rest of the list, Elkton scored well for utilities, meaning you’ll pay less for heat and save that money for heating a campfire during a camping trip to Elk Neck State Forest.
More on Elkton: Data
Cheapest places to live in Maryland FAQs
The county in Maryland with the lowest cost of living is Frederick County. The average living wage in Frederick County is $103,539 according to MIT data. Frederick County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Maryland as a whole. Childcare costs $19,459 a year in Frederick County for two children compared to the Maryland average of $20,462. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $21,180 per year in Frederick County compared to $17,913 on average in Maryland.
The cost of living in Maryland is 12.5% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Maryland is $100,959 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Maryland household is $87,063.
The cheapest housing market in Maryland is Cumberland. The average home value in Cumberland is $104,200, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Maryland is $325,400, almost 3.1 times higher than Cumberland.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Old Line State for 2025
Determining affordability for places in Maryland boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 for Maryland using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Maryland to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 41 places in Maryland that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Maryland with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Cumberland.
We updated this article for 2025. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Maryland.
Maryland Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Maryland for 2025, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Maryland.
The cheapest cities in Maryland are Cumberland, Hagerstown, Salisbury, Cambridge, Frostburg, Fruitland, Brunswick, Baltimore, Aberdeen, and Elkton.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Maryland according to the data:
- Takoma Park
- Rockville
- Poolesville
For more Maryland reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumberland | 18,938 | 88 | $47,819 | $120,800 | $728 |
| 2 | Hagerstown | 43,490 | 97 | $49,957 | $207,700 | $1,041 |
| 3 | Salisbury | 33,080 | 98 | $56,402 | $217,500 | $1,247 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 13,094 | 98 | $46,261 | $254,400 | $971 |
| 5 | Frostburg | 7,025 | 100 | $51,052 | $172,600 | $865 |
| 6 | Fruitland | 5,698 | 101 | $64,352 | $211,200 | $1,354 |
| 7 | Brunswick | 7,994 | 103 | $115,972 | $348,500 | $1,139 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 577,193 | 104 | $59,623 | $219,300 | $1,290 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 16,831 | 107 | $76,019 | $239,000 | $1,339 |
| 10 | Elkton | 15,867 | 109 | $56,565 | $271,700 | $1,368 |
| 11 | Westminster | 20,257 | 110 | $79,431 | $318,100 | $1,410 |
| 12 | Bladensburg | 9,552 | 111 | $62,400 | $330,400 | $1,652 |
| 13 | Thurmont | 6,439 | 111 | $92,391 | $325,700 | $1,011 |
| 14 | Hampstead | 6,311 | 111 | $96,802 | $305,400 | $1,229 |
| 15 | District Heights | 5,888 | 111 | $81,750 | $320,500 | $1,377 |
| 16 | Easton | 17,202 | 113 | $73,460 | $348,400 | $1,177 |
| 17 | Bel Air | 10,616 | 113 | $69,912 | $297,400 | $1,526 |
| 18 | Taneytown | 7,295 | 113 | $78,726 | $323,700 | $799 |
| 19 | Havre de Grace | 14,857 | 114 | $106,798 | $348,800 | $1,314 |
| 20 | Ocean City | 6,887 | 114 | $69,675 | $373,700 | $1,187 |
| 21 | Greenbelt | 24,572 | 115 | $86,352 | $258,600 | $1,807 |
| 22 | Manchester | 5,446 | 116 | $112,679 | $351,500 | $1,329 |
| 23 | New Carrollton | 13,544 | 117 | $80,292 | $378,300 | $1,745 |
| 24 | Glenarden | 6,320 | 117 | $96,875 | $411,900 | $1,684 |
| 25 | Frederick | 80,617 | 118 | $95,150 | $365,200 | $1,688 |
| 26 | Riverdale Park | 7,249 | 120 | $104,583 | $447,000 | $1,668 |
| 27 | Laurel | 29,594 | 121 | $94,063 | $367,300 | $1,878 |
| 28 | Hyattsville | 20,861 | 121 | $94,231 | $463,500 | $1,831 |
| 29 | College Park | 34,397 | 122 | $74,867 | $429,000 | $1,846 |
| 30 | Mount Rainier | 8,235 | 123 | $68,281 | $522,100 | $1,434 |
| 31 | La Plata | 10,470 | 125 | $121,707 | $405,200 | $1,483 |
| 32 | Walkersville | 6,352 | 125 | $137,218 | $442,300 | $1,390 |
| 33 | Cheverly | 6,107 | 126 | $117,633 | $466,500 | $1,786 |
| 34 | Annapolis | 40,744 | 131 | $104,257 | $510,200 | $1,855 |
| 35 | Gaithersburg | 69,225 | 132 | $107,496 | $484,500 | $2,008 |
| 36 | Bowie | 57,771 | 132 | $141,831 | $442,000 | $2,240 |
| 37 | Chesapeake Beach | 6,428 | 132 | $135,888 | $438,300 | $1,490 |
| 38 | Mount Airy | 9,746 | 134 | $154,514 | $474,800 | $1,939 |
| 39 | Rockville | 67,218 | 149 | $122,384 | $658,300 | $2,244 |
| 40 | Takoma Park | 17,522 | 150 | $97,872 | $721,500 | $1,388 |