Before you decide to relocate to Maryland, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Maryland that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2019-2023 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 41 places in Maryland with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Maryland for 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Maryland For 2025
What’s the most expensive place to live in Maryland? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Takoma Park is the most expensive place to live in Maryland.
Cumberland (the cheapest place to live in Maryland) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Maryland and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Maryland For 2025
/10
Population: 17,522
Cost Of Living Index: 150
Median Income: $97,872
Average Home Price: $721,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.4x
More on Takoma Park: Data
The overall cost of living in Takoma Park is 150. The median income in Takoma Park comes in at $97,872 and the average home value is $721,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 67,218
Cost Of Living Index: 149
Median Income: $122,384
Average Home Price: $658,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Rockville: Data
The overall cost of living in Rockville is 149. The median income in Rockville comes in at $122,384 and the average home value is $658,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 5,704
Cost Of Living Index: 140
Median Income: $216,653
Average Home Price: $672,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Poolesville: Data
The overall cost of living in Poolesville is 140. The median income in Poolesville comes in at $216,653 and the average home value is $672,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 9,746
Cost Of Living Index: 134
Median Income: $154,514
Average Home Price: $474,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Mount Airy: Data
The overall cost of living in Mount Airy is 134. The median income in Mount Airy comes in at $154,514 and the average home value is $474,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 69,225
Cost Of Living Index: 132
Median Income: $107,496
Average Home Price: $484,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Gaithersburg: Data
The overall cost of living in Gaithersburg is 132. The median income in Gaithersburg comes in at $107,496 and the average home value is $484,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 57,771
Cost Of Living Index: 132
Median Income: $141,831
Average Home Price: $442,000
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Bowie: Data
The overall cost of living in Bowie is 132. The median income in Bowie comes in at $141,831 and the average home value is $442,000 for 2025.
/10
Population: 6,428
Cost Of Living Index: 132
Median Income: $135,888
Average Home Price: $438,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Chesapeake Beach: Data
The overall cost of living in Chesapeake Beach is 132. The median income in Chesapeake Beach comes in at $135,888 and the average home value is $438,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 40,744
Cost Of Living Index: 131
Median Income: $104,257
Average Home Price: $510,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Annapolis: Data
The overall cost of living in Annapolis is 131. The median income in Annapolis comes in at $104,257 and the average home value is $510,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 6,107
Cost Of Living Index: 126
Median Income: $117,633
Average Home Price: $466,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Cheverly: Data
The overall cost of living in Cheverly is 126. The median income in Cheverly comes in at $117,633 and the average home value is $466,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 10,470
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $121,707
Average Home Price: $405,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on La Plata: Data
The overall cost of living in La Plata is 125. The median income in La Plata comes in at $121,707 and the average home value is $405,200 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Old Line State For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Maryland are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Maryland to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 41 places in Maryland that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Maryland according to the data is Takoma Park. We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Maryland.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Maryland For 2025
Well, there you have it, the places in Maryland that have the highest cost of living, with Takoma Park ranking as the most expensive city in the Old Line State.
The most expensive cities in Maryland are Takoma Park, Rockville, Poolesville, Mount Airy, Gaithersburg, Bowie, Chesapeake Beach, Annapolis, Cheverly, and La Plata.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Maryland according to the data:
- Cumberland
- Hagerstown
- Cambridge
For more Maryland reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Safest Places In Maryland
- Worst Places To Live In Maryland
Most Expensive Cities In Maryland
Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Takoma Park | 150 | 17,522 | $97,872 | $721,500 | 7.4x |
2 | Rockville | 149 | 67,218 | $122,384 | $658,300 | 5.4x |
3 | Poolesville | 140 | 5,704 | $216,653 | $672,300 | 3.1x |
4 | Mount Airy | 134 | 9,746 | $154,514 | $474,800 | 3.1x |
5 | Gaithersburg | 132 | 69,225 | $107,496 | $484,500 | 4.5x |
6 | Bowie | 132 | 57,771 | $141,831 | $442,000 | 3.1x |
7 | Chesapeake Beach | 132 | 6,428 | $135,888 | $438,300 | 3.2x |
8 | Annapolis | 131 | 40,744 | $104,257 | $510,200 | 4.9x |
9 | Cheverly | 126 | 6,107 | $117,633 | $466,500 | 4.0x |
10 | La Plata | 125 | 10,470 | $121,707 | $405,200 | 3.3x |
11 | Walkersville | 125 | 6,352 | $137,218 | $442,300 | 3.2x |
12 | Mount Rainier | 123 | 8,235 | $68,281 | $522,100 | 7.6x |
13 | College Park | 122 | 34,397 | $74,867 | $429,000 | 5.7x |
14 | Laurel | 121 | 29,594 | $94,063 | $367,300 | 3.9x |
15 | Hyattsville | 121 | 20,861 | $94,231 | $463,500 | 4.9x |
16 | Riverdale Park | 120 | 7,249 | $104,583 | $447,000 | 4.3x |
17 | Frederick | 118 | 80,617 | $95,150 | $365,200 | 3.8x |
18 | New Carrollton | 117 | 13,544 | $80,292 | $378,300 | 4.7x |
19 | Glenarden | 117 | 6,320 | $96,875 | $411,900 | 4.3x |
20 | Manchester | 116 | 5,446 | $112,679 | $351,500 | 3.1x |
21 | Greenbelt | 115 | 24,572 | $86,352 | $258,600 | 3.0x |
22 | Havre de Grace | 114 | 14,857 | $106,798 | $348,800 | 3.3x |
23 | Ocean City | 114 | 6,887 | $69,675 | $373,700 | 5.4x |
24 | Easton | 113 | 17,202 | $73,460 | $348,400 | 4.7x |
25 | Bel Air | 113 | 10,616 | $69,912 | $297,400 | 4.3x |
26 | Taneytown | 113 | 7,295 | $78,726 | $323,700 | 4.1x |
27 | Bladensburg | 111 | 9,552 | $62,400 | $330,400 | 5.3x |
28 | Thurmont | 111 | 6,439 | $92,391 | $325,700 | 3.5x |
29 | Hampstead | 111 | 6,311 | $96,802 | $305,400 | 3.2x |
30 | District Heights | 111 | 5,888 | $81,750 | $320,500 | 3.9x |
31 | Westminster | 110 | 20,257 | $79,431 | $318,100 | 4.0x |
32 | Elkton | 109 | 15,867 | $56,565 | $271,700 | 4.8x |
33 | Aberdeen | 107 | 16,831 | $76,019 | $239,000 | 3.1x |
34 | Baltimore | 104 | 577,193 | $59,623 | $219,300 | 3.7x |
35 | Brunswick | 103 | 7,994 | $115,972 | $348,500 | 3.0x |
36 | Fruitland | 101 | 5,698 | $64,352 | $211,200 | 3.3x |
37 | Frostburg | 100 | 7,025 | $51,052 | $172,600 | 3.4x |
38 | Salisbury | 98 | 33,080 | $56,402 | $217,500 | 3.9x |
39 | Cambridge | 98 | 13,094 | $46,261 | $254,400 | 5.5x |
40 | Hagerstown | 97 | 43,490 | $49,957 | $207,700 | 4.2x |
41 | Cumberland | 88 | 18,938 | $47,819 | $120,800 | 2.5x |