What county in Maryland has the lowest cost of living?
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 average home value in Frederick County is $341,800 and the average income is $100,685 per year. Part of the reason this county has the lowest cost of living in Maryland is a relatively high level of poverty for Maryland and higher than average crime rates. These factors make a place less desirable to live, but also push down the cost of living.
People Also Ask About Maryland
Is Maryland a dangerous state?
No, Maryland is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #18 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Maryland ranks 23rd most dangerous in the United States -- 8.13% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Old Line State ranks 36th most dangerous in the United States -- 17.63% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Baltimore, MD a dangerous city?
Yes, Baltimore is a dangerous city. Baltimore ranks as the #50 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Baltimore might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Cheswolde Area is the safest in Baltimore, while Hopkins-Middle East is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Baltimore ranks ninth highest in America -- 180.58% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 92nd highest in the United States -- 20.1% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is "dangerous". Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
What is the cost of living 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.
What is the cheapest housing market in Maryland?
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.