Best places to live in Maryland
CityLedger tracks 3 Maryland metros, led by Lexington Park. Cost of living runs from about 94 to 104 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 3 metros in Maryland, the largest being the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area (around 2,859,024 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $80,901 in Hagerstown to $122,406 in Lexington Park, and typical rent from $1,122 a month in Hagerstown upward — a reminder that "Maryland" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Hagerstown has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 94 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Lexington Park delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $121,483.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Maryland levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Maryland state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Lexington Park earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 78/100; Hagerstown is the fastest-growing, up 8.1% over the latest population estimate; Baltimore carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $6 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | 78 | 101 | $122,406 | $1,733/mo |
| Baltimore, MD | 69 | 104 | $98,666 | $1,633/mo |
| Hagerstown, MD | 49 | 94 | $80,901 | $1,122/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Maryland — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Maryland?
- By overall price level, Hagerstown is the most affordable metro in Maryland, at about 94 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Maryland?
- Lexington Park has the highest cost-adjusted income in Maryland — a median of about $121,483 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Maryland have a state income tax?
- Yes. Maryland levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 6.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Maryland metro has the highest livability score?
- Lexington Park, at 78/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.