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Is moving to Maryland right for you in 2024? Maryland is one of the richest states in the country and has one of the lowest poverty rates in America.
Maryland’s booming job market, top-quality healthcare facilities, beautiful outdoors and parks, and great tasty seafoods makes it one of the best places to live in America.
If you’d love to live around Mountains, farmlands, cities, and beaches, moving to Maryland may be perfect for you.
Maryland’s proximity to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Newark etc. on top of being the home of the U.S. Naval Academy, makes it one of the most coveted states in America.
If you’re considering moving to Maryland in this guide, we have all the information you need to know about the state in order to make the right decision.
A quick look at the population and other demographics of Maryland.
Maryland has a population of 6,185,278 and it is the 18th most populous city in the US. Maryland has a land area of 12,407 sq mi and the density is 619/sq mi.
Summers are warm and humid in Maryland while winters are cold, snowy, and windy. It rains heavily in Maryland and almost every part of the state receives 3.5–4.5 inches per month of rain. Average annual snowfall varies from 9 inches (23 cm) in the coastal areas to over 100 inches (250 cm) in the western mountains of the state.
Maryland has one of the longest commuting times in the US — 29.9 minutes which is the 4th longest in the country. This means, moving to Maryland, you would be spending more time on the road than in most US states. More than 220,000 Maryland residents daily commute to Washington DC for work and all the roads leading to Washington DC will be choked in peak hours.
People are moving in and out of Maryland for several reasons. Here we’ve listed the top ten reasons people are moving to Maryland. Perhaps, one of these or more could be the reason you’re considering moving to Maryland.
Maryland may be a small East Coast state but it has many towns packed with breathtaking landscapes and scenic vistas complemented by fresh local seafood and places to pick vintage antiques.
Here is a list of 10 scenic towns in Maryland
The economy in Maryland is robust with the 15th largest GDP in the country. The state continues to outperform the country as a whole and the major economic sectors include farming, information technology, telecommunications, aerospace, and defense. As a result, the job sector is booming and federal government employment options are also relatively high in Maryland.
A big reason for people flocking to Maryland is the healthcare system, which is the 6th best in the US. Making the best use of the many health benefits offered by the government, you can be sure that you will get the best treatment in hospitals while being sick in Maryland.
In Maryland, heading to a beach on a weekend or for a week is a normal routine as the state has about 3,000 miles of coastline. From the Atlantic Coast beaches of Ocean City and Assateague to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and her tributaries, to spring-fed swimming holes and mountain lakes, the beaches in Maryland are perfect locations to swim, surf, and sunbath.
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Here’s a list of the 10 best beaches in Maryland:
Maryland is just next to Washington DC and a 27-mile drive from the state border will reach you to the US capital. This makes Maryland home to many Federal departments, opening more federal job opportunities to the state residents. You can even commute to DC daily for professional reasons while residing in Maryland, where the living costs are much cheaper than the national capital.
There is an incredible bounty of diverse, beautiful parks that range from the Appalachian Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore marshlands and the Atlantic Ocean. And with a varied climate, you can explore the unlimited outdoor terrains of Maryland at any given season.
Here’s a list of breathtaking outdoors in Maryland to explore:
No sane person can ignore the cuisine in Maryland. There’s a lot on offer when it comes to traditional food in Maryland and we’ve compiled a list of must-taste delicacies in Maryland.
Despite being smaller in size, Maryland encompasses an extremely wide range of physiographic features that contribute to a comparatively wide range of climatic conditions. In spring and fall, the changeableness of the weather is a striking feature. Winters are cold with heavy snowfall while summers are warm to hot with high humidity. Maryland averages around 30–40 days of thunderstorms a year and averages around six tornado strikes annually.
Here is the best news for families planning to live in Maryland. The school system is one of the best in the country and the state boasts of top-notch colleges and schools.
Maryland should not be mistaken as just a scenic state drenched with serene views; instead, it has a rich history starting from the 17th century. Maryland was the center of the American Revolutionary War and later the American Civil War. Almost every historic site is well preserved and open to the public.
While considering moving to Maryland, one of the key things to weigh carefully is the pros and cons of living in the state. Here are the pros and cons of living in the state::
Maryland is home to many beautiful cities and small towns. Since you’re considering moving to Maryland, here are the ten best places to live in the state:
| Rank | City | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Airy | 9,395 | 3.1% | $368,500 |
| 2 | Bowie | 58,368 | 5.8% | $326,900 |
| 3 | Rockville | 67,062 | 4.6% | $521,700 |
| 4 | Poolesville | 5,170 | 3.7% | $445,400 |
| 5 | Hampstead | 6,340 | 5.7% | $246,300 |
| 6 | Havre De Grace | 13,555 | 8.6% | $289,200 |
| 7 | Thurmont | 6,563 | 6.4% | $248,000 |
| 8 | Glenarden | 6,170 | 6.9% | $267,000 |
| 9 | Takoma Park | 17,622 | 6.6% | $555,000 |
| 10 | Walkersville | 6,095 | 4.3% | $284,800 |
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Start My Quote NowMaryland’s average one-way commute time is 32.7 minutes. The United States average is 26.4 minutes.
If moving to Maryland means getting a new job, commuting time should be among the key things you’ll have to consider. We’ve collated key data about how Marylanders commute to work in the state to give you an idea of what to expect.
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The cost of living in Maryland is rated 113.0. The United States average is 100. This means the cost of living in Maryland is higher than the United States average. If you’re mulling over moving to Maryland, the cost of living in the state is one of the key things to consider.
About 29.6% of Marylanders are renters and up to 2.0% of homes and apartments in the state are open to rent. If you’re considering renting a home after moving to Maryland, we’ve compiled key data about the state’s home rental market.
Here’s a simple analysis of the median monthly rents of apartments/homes in Maryland:
The median home value in Maryland is $294,100. Over the last ten years, home appreciation in Maryland has increased by 4.1%. The average age of homes in the state is 40 years old.
If you’re looking to get a job before or after moving to Maryland, we’ve compiled key stats about the state’s job market to give you an overview of what to expect.
Maryland is home to many large industries. Moving to Maryland could mean working in any of these large industries in the state:
The job market in Maryland is booming and if you’d like to get a job even faster, you may consider the fastest growing jobs in the state. Here are the 10 fastest growing jobs in Maryland:
| Rank | Job Title | Growth % | Average Wage | Jobs in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interpreter And Translator | 154.6% | $66,800 | 1,530 |
| 2 | Information Security Analyst | 152.1% | $104,830 | 5,340 |
| 3 | Home Health Aid | 149.5% | $25,080 | 17,030 |
| 4 | Personal Care Assistant | 149.4% | $24,900 | 23,280 |
| 5 | Meeting Planner | 147.5% | $54,620 | 4,190 |
| 6 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | 146.7% | $65,350 | 1,100 |
| 7 | Physical Therapist Assistant | 143.1% | $57,670 | 2,390 |
| 8 | Marketing Internship | 141.3% | $65,370 | 13,790 |
| 9 | Fitness Trainer | 139.8% | $47,810 | 9,590 |
| 10 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | 139.7% | $71,690 | 2,710 |
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Start My Quote NowThe median household income in Maryland is $84,805. While Per capita income in the past 12 months is $42,122. If you’re interested in getting a high paying job after moving to Maryland, we’ve compiled a list to give you a head start.
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary | Entry Level Salary | # Of People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists | $278,720 | $194,100 | 590 |
| 2 | Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $211,430 | $90,120 | 460 |
| 3 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $203,270 | $95,540 | 1,140 |
| 4 | Family Medicine Physicians | $193,080 | $77,870 | 1,590 |
| 5 | Physicians, All Other; And Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $191,690 | $68,030 | 10,680 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | $186,310 | $54,250 | 440 |
| 7 | Orthodontists | $183,980 | $68,700 | 400 |
| 8 | Pediatricians, General | $178,160 | $79,310 | 720 |
| 9 | Dentists, General | $159,130 | $58,510 | 2,510 |
| 10 | Computer And Information Systems Managers | $157,200 | $97,210 | 11,730 |
What’s your chances of getting a job if you’re moving to Maryland? Getting a job in Maryland is fairly easy. Here’s a simple breakdown of Maryland’s job market:
Three Fortune 500 companies in Maryland made the list in 2019 and 2020. Since you’re considering moving to Maryland, we’ve made a list of the top 10 largest companies in the state to give you an idea of the job market.
| Rank | Company | City | Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marriott International | Bethesda | 176,000 |
| 2 | Lockheed Martin | Bethesda | 105,000 |
| 3 | Social Security Administration | Baltimore | 60,000 |
| 4 | Laureate Education | Baltimore | 54,500 |
| 5 | The Ritz-Carlton Hotel | Chevy Chase | 40,000 |
| 6 | MedStar Health | Columbia | 28,061 |
| 7 | HMSHost | Bethesda | 27,900 |
| 8 | University System of Maryland | Hyattsville | 21,565 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins Medicine | Baltimore | 21,080 |
| 10 | Perdue Farms | Salisbury | 21,000 |
The average annual salary for the average hourly job in Maryland is $66,701 per annum. Here’s a simple analysis of the amount you’ll most likely earn if you’re moving to Maryland. Since you’re considering moving to Maryland, here’s the average amount of salary you’ll likely earn in the state:
Moving to Maryland will most likely mean paying more or less in taxes. However, Maryland is rated as one of the not-so-tax-friendly states. Why is that so? Maryland is one of the states where local governments are allowed to levy their own taxes in addition to state and federal income taxes.
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Maryland is well-known for many reasons. Notably for its quality education and healthcare facilities amongst several others. Listing everything Maryland is most known for will take a long list. Since you’re considering moving to Maryland, here’s a list of the most notable things the state is known for:
Maryland is a prominent producer and processor of seafood, especially crabs and soft clams. Every year, the seafood industry contributes nearly $600 million to the State's coffers. Almost every traditional dish in Maryland is rich in seafood. Along with crabs, striped bass, oysters, soft clams, flounder, perch, spot, croaker, catfish, sea trout, and bluefish are also consumed and served in rich quantities in Maryland.
The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis is 33 miles east of Washington DC and the entire campus, known as ‘the Yard’ to insiders, is a National Historic Landmark. Established in 1845, it has about 4,500 students and 510 academic staff.
Maryland ranks 6th in healthcare and the state provides many health benefits offered to the residents, benefitting even retired people.
Maryland has a coastline of 3,190 miles, making it a perfect beach destination. There are both public beaches and secluded ones. While some are best suited for all types of water activities, people are stopped from swimming at certain beaches as they have strong currents and are considered dangerous.
Maryland’s landscape is captivating for its rolling mountains. The Piedmont Plateau, west of the coastal lowlands, is broad; rolling upland with several deep gorges cut by rivers and is one of the most photographed landscapes in the state.
Maryland stands second in the country in education and has about 1,449 schools in 25 school districts. On average, the state spends $13,829 per pupil, one of the best in the US. 85% of the Marylanders are graduates.
Living in Maryland, you are near many big cities in the US. Washington DC, Philadelphia, Newark, New York, Pittsburgh – all are just less than 200 miles
Maryland is blessed with serene beauty and there’s no shortage of parks to spend leisure time. Most parks are easily accessible from towns and cities, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, from hiking and biking to boating and fishing.
When you’re in Maryland, make the best use of its unlimited scenic outdoor surroundings. Maryland takes pride in its breathtaking natural beauty and there are unlimited options to explore the wilderness of this state.
Some of the best places to explore to feel the natural beauty of Maryland include:
Home to lots of beautiful small neighborhoods
Finding a good neighborhood is not a big deal in Maryland as the state is packed with some of the best and beautiful places. Great restaurants, quality schools, and plenty of things to see and do – these neighborhoods will surely make your life in Maryland mesmerizing.
Annapolis, once the national capital (183-1784), is also addressed as the sailing capital of the world for its prominent port and multiple sailing lanes. Sailing and racing in Annapolis are so big that even local shops and restaurants close for the event on Wednesdays. On weekends, serious sailors from across the US join at the city and the harbor and marina will have more than 3,000 boats at that time. The city also homes the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the Annapolis Maritime Museum
Maryland is home to several top-quality universities, colleges, high, middle, and elementary schools. In fact, top quality education is one of the key things the state is known for.
Glenarden Woods Elementary School
Prince George's County Public Schools, Public, 2-5 | 469 students, Rating: 10/10
Heather Hills Elementary School
Prince George's County Public Schools, Public, 2-5 | 363 students, Rating: 10/10
Ocean City Elementary School
Worcester County Public Schools, Public, PK-4 | 580 students, Rating: 10/10
Mount Harmony Elementary School
Calvert County Public Schools, Public, K-5 | 605 students, Rating: 10/10
Urbana Elementary School
Frederick County Public Schools, Public, PK-5 | 712 students, Rating: 10/10
Folly Quarter Middle School
Howard County Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 663 students, Rating: 10/10
Windsor Knolls Middle School
Frederick County Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 757 students, Rating: 9/10
Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
Montgomery County Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 1485 students, Rating: 9/10
Severna Park Middle School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 1454 students, Rating: 9/10
Shiloh Middle School
Carroll County Public Schools, Public, 6-8 | 661 students, Rating: 9/10
Eastern Technical High School
Baltimore County Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1176 students, Rating: 10/10
Winston Churchill High School
Montgomery County Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 2102 students, Rating: 9/10
Centennial High School
Howard County Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1697 students, Rating: 9/10
South River High School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 2019 students, Rating: 9/10
Liberty High School
Carroll County Public Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1119 students, Rating: 9/10
Rank 1. United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
Rank 2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Rank 3. University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD
Rank 4. Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Rank 5. Towson University
Towson, MD
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