Maryland is your state if your retirement requirements include safe, affordable housing, fun stuff to do, and fresh Chesapeake Bay blue crab.
We’ve created the ultimate guide for people looking to retire in the Old Line State. We produced a list of the best places to retire in Maryland for 2024.
To determine Maryland’s cream of the crop, we looked at several important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent and the distance to the closest national airport for every place with over 10,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 20 cities.
We discovered that Maryland’s best places to retire are close to the state’s biggest cities, Baltimore and Frederick. Additionally, many of Pennsylvania’s best places to retire are also some of the state’s safest.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maryland For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Maryland for 2024? According to the latest data, Easton is the best place to retire in Little America for 2024.
To see how your favorite places in Maryland compare, look at the list below, and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
Why did Easton take the top spot? And where are Baltimore and Frederick?
For more Maryland state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maryland For 2024
/10
Population: 17,118
Median Income: $75,198
Median Home Price: $415,598
Median Rent: $1,153
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Easton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 40,719
Median Income: $97,219
Median Home Price: $571,003
Median Rent: $1,750
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Annapolis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,283
Median Income: $117,065
Median Home Price: $458,131
Median Rent: $1,539
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on La Plata: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,743
Median Income: $95,025
Median Home Price: $376,608
Median Rent: $1,184
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Havre De Grace: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 57,922
Median Income: $138,797
Median Home Price: $495,660
Median Rent: $2,167
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Bowie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,041
Median Income: $45,915
Median Home Price: $139,025
Median Rent: $712
Distance to Closest Airport: 84 miles
More on Cumberland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,099
Median Income: $71,286
Median Home Price: $423,805
Median Rent: $1,335
Distance to Closest Airport: 33 miles
More on Westminster: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,058
Median Income: $44,114
Median Home Price: $242,774
Median Rent: $956
Distance to Closest Airport: 53 miles
More on Cambridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 43,374
Median Income: $48,481
Median Home Price: $260,493
Median Rent: $977
Distance to Closest Airport: 49 miles
More on Hagerstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,312
Median Income: $88,632
Median Home Price: $345,181
Median Rent: $1,721
Distance to Closest Airport: 80 miles
More on Ocean Pines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Old Line State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Maryland to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Old Line State — 508 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 20 places from across the state.
For these 20, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 20, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Easton, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Maryland.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Maryland Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Maryland goes to Easton.
The best places to retire in Maryland are Easton, Annapolis, La Plata, Havre de Grace, Bowie, Cumberland, Westminster, Cambridge, Hagerstown, and Ocean Pines.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Salisbury
- Greenbelt
- Hyattsville
For more Maryland reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Maryland
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easton | 17,118 | $75,198 | $415,598 | $1,153 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 40,719 | $97,219 | $571,003 | $1,750 |
| 3 | La Plata | 10,283 | $117,065 | $458,131 | $1,539 |
| 4 | Havre De Grace | 14,743 | $95,025 | $376,608 | $1,184 |
| 5 | Bowie | 57,922 | $138,797 | $495,660 | $2,167 |
| 6 | Cumberland | 19,041 | $45,915 | $139,025 | $712 |
| 7 | Westminster | 20,099 | $71,286 | $423,805 | $1,335 |
| 8 | Cambridge | 13,058 | $44,114 | $242,774 | $956 |
| 9 | Hagerstown | 43,374 | $48,481 | $260,493 | $977 |
| 10 | Ocean Pines | 12,312 | $88,632 | $345,181 | $1,721 |