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 Frostburg 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 2026
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Population: 6,977
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $52,977
Median Home Price: $176,234
Median Rent: $945
Cheap living and college students practically go hand in hand so it’s fitting that, Frostburg, our 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 $945 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 18,804
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $48,162
Median Home Price: $152,202
Median Rent: $741
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 $741/month, that’s not what earned Cumberland the #2 spot on this list. It’s really because at a median price of $152,202 for homes and a median income of $48,162 for residents, the city has the second best home price to income ratio in the state.
More on Cumberland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 43,665
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $52,221
Median Home Price: $300,051
Median Rent: $1,114
Hagerstown, in Maryland’s Great Appalachian Valley, offers an affordable lifestyle with an overall cost of living index of 102. It has a $300,051 average home price that is the eighth lowest in the state, according to Zillow.
The city thrives as Washington County’s economic epicenter, coupling a low 7.18% unemployment rate with a $1,114 average rental price. That means you can have your blue crab and eat it too.
More on Hagerstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Town has little job opportunities and has some drug problems.9
Indian restaurant, good sushi, lots of stores.
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Population: 33,285
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $58,576
Median Home Price: $264,544
Median Rent: $1,318
Salisbury, nestled in eastern Maryland, ranks as the fourth 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 $264,544 and attractive $1,318. Home prices are typically the big drivers in cost from town to town in Maryland.
Salisbury has an 103 overall cost of living index, which comes in 18 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 15,910
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $58,640
Median Home Price: $367,248
Median Rent: $1,382
Elkton snuck onto the list of the least expensive locales in Maryland this year. With an overall cost of living index of 103, 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 13,152
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $47,323
Median Home Price: $266,443
Median Rent: $1,058
Cambridge, another city on the state’s Eastern Shore, is the sixth most affordable city in Maryland for 2026. A low 104 cost of living index complements a $266,443 average home price and a $47,323 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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!!
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Population: 5,801
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $64,004
Median Home Price: $252,663
Median Rent: $1,586
Fruitland, charming place to call your home, ranks as the seventh most affordable place to live in Maryland. With a median home value of $252,663 and a median rent of $1,586, 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 573,243
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $62,177
Median Home Price: $188,101
Median Rent: $1,331
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 $188,101 and the median income is $62,177, 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The crime is very bad in this city. I love the culture and my neighbors but the extremely high crime rate is making me seriously consider on moving out.
The violence and the robbery. The restaurants in the city are amazing though.
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Population: 17,298
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $74,826
Median Home Price: $343,947
Median Rent: $1,363
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 $343,947. A price tag that is affordable for those bringing in Aberdeen’s median household income of $74,826. If your budget is tighter, the area’s median rent rate of $1,363 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 5.75% unemployment rate.
More on Aberdeen: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,232
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $81,438
Median Home Price: $440,463
Median Rent: $1,091
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.
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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.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Old Line State for 2026
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 2020-2024 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 42 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 Frostburg.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh 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 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Maryland.
The cheapest cities in Maryland are Frostburg, Cumberland, Hagerstown, Salisbury, Elkton, Cambridge, Fruitland, Baltimore, Aberdeen, and Berlin.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Maryland according to the data:
- Rockville
- Takoma Park
- Poolesville
For more Maryland reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland
- Richest Cities In Maryland
Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frostburg | 6,977 | 88 | $52,977 | $176,234 | $945 |
| 2 | Cumberland | 18,804 | 93 | $48,162 | $152,202 | $741 |
| 3 | Hagerstown | 43,665 | 102 | $52,221 | $300,051 | $1,114 |
| 4 | Salisbury | 33,285 | 103 | $58,576 | $264,544 | $1,318 |
| 5 | Elkton | 15,910 | 103 | $58,640 | $367,248 | $1,382 |
| 6 | Cambridge | 13,152 | 104 | $47,323 | $266,443 | $1,058 |
| 7 | Fruitland | 5,801 | 106 | $64,004 | $252,663 | $1,586 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 573,243 | 109 | $62,177 | $188,101 | $1,331 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 17,298 | 110 | $74,826 | $343,947 | $1,363 |
| 10 | Berlin | 5,232 | 110 | $81,438 | $440,463 | $1,091 |
| 11 | Brunswick | 8,450 | 112 | $118,025 | $409,509 | $1,217 |
| 12 | Hampstead | 6,251 | 112 | $97,871 | $439,359 | $1,309 |
| 13 | Taneytown | 7,932 | 113 | $87,621 | $395,402 | $1,059 |
| 14 | Westminster | 20,445 | 114 | $86,219 | $462,868 | $1,476 |
| 15 | District Heights | 5,891 | 115 | $86,955 | $342,105 | $1,379 |
| 16 | Greenbelt | 24,678 | 117 | $85,997 | $285,335 | $1,848 |
| 17 | Bladensburg | 9,583 | 117 | $63,179 | $317,187 | $1,656 |
| 18 | Thurmont | 6,254 | 117 | $98,125 | $397,681 | $927 |
| 19 | Frederick | 83,395 | 118 | $97,069 | $466,011 | $1,764 |
| 20 | Bel Air | 10,585 | 118 | $74,605 | $461,262 | $1,492 |
| 21 | Easton | 17,308 | 119 | $74,653 | $451,055 | $1,197 |
| 22 | Havre de Grace | 14,994 | 119 | $105,817 | $404,054 | $1,416 |
| 23 | Manchester | 5,439 | 119 | $121,676 | $462,577 | $1,358 |
| 24 | Ocean City | 6,903 | 120 | $77,750 | $441,288 | $1,353 |
| 25 | New Carrollton | 13,564 | 121 | $81,509 | $399,604 | $1,749 |
| 26 | Glenarden | 6,344 | 122 | $106,414 | $413,332 | $1,620 |
| 27 | Riverdale Park | 7,270 | 125 | $120,043 | $486,910 | $1,679 |
| 28 | Laurel | 29,798 | 126 | $100,504 | $476,647 | $1,873 |
| 29 | Walkersville | 6,414 | 126 | $130,893 | $466,393 | $1,481 |
| 30 | College Park | 34,540 | 127 | $69,721 | $437,694 | $1,912 |
| 31 | La Plata | 10,683 | 127 | $121,208 | $481,282 | $1,559 |
| 32 | Cheverly | 6,096 | 130 | $123,535 | $468,344 | $1,907 |
| 33 | Hyattsville | 20,966 | 131 | $91,941 | $403,229 | $1,835 |
| 34 | Chesapeake Beach | 6,456 | 132 | $138,895 | $462,696 | $1,756 |
| 35 | Bowie | 57,926 | 133 | $141,995 | $524,117 | $2,330 |
| 36 | Mount Rainier | 8,245 | 133 | $68,505 | $448,596 | $1,457 |
| 37 | Mount Airy | 9,805 | 137 | $151,324 | $639,006 | $1,854 |
| 38 | Annapolis | 40,720 | 139 | $113,860 | $618,837 | $1,860 |
| 39 | Gaithersburg | 69,825 | 141 | $112,467 | $527,608 | $2,058 |
| 40 | Poolesville | 5,764 | 152 | $205,919 | $736,648 | $1,831 |
| 41 | Takoma Park | 17,632 | 156 | $108,136 | $686,398 | $1,432 |
| 42 | Rockville | 67,671 | 157 | $128,649 | $618,892 | $2,274 |