#1 in MD
Carroll County
74.7
Overall score
Open county reportState rankings
Best Counties to Live in Maryland
Compare counties in Maryland by overall score, affordability, economy, schools, safety, taxes, and peace & quiet. Rankings are public-data estimates for comparison and research.
#2 in MD
Calvert County
74.4
Overall score
Open county report#3 in MD
Frederick County
73.8
Overall score
Open county report#4 in MD
Queen Anne's County
73.8
Overall score
Open county report#5 in MD
Harford County
72.7
Overall score
Open county reportCategory highlights
Quick entry points for common county search priorities.
All Maryland counties
Showing 24 counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll County FIPS 24013 | 74.7 | 85.4 | 51.7 | 98 | 86.9 | 49.3 | 57.9 | $490,460 | $118,211 |
| 2 | Calvert County FIPS 24009 | 74.4 | 83.8 | 58 | 97.5 | 77.2 | 51.7 | 53.2 | $483,001 | $133,922 |
| 3 | Frederick County FIPS 24021 | 73.8 | 88.6 | 49.2 | 95.2 | 89.2 | 41.7 | 54.6 | $503,055 | $122,002 |
| 4 | Queen Anne's County FIPS 24035 | 73.8 | 89 | 42.1 | 94.9 | 85.7 | 55.1 | 74.1 | $522,258 | $112,826 |
| 5 | Harford County FIPS 24025 | 72.7 | 81.2 | 59 | 94.3 | 77.6 | 49.6 | 44.4 | $416,736 | $112,265 |
| 6 | Howard County FIPS 24027 | 70.9 | 85.4 | 44.2 | 99.1 | 100 | 27.6 | 18.5 | $636,618 | $149,763 |
| 7 | St. Mary's County FIPS 24037 | 70.1 | 82.7 | 55.8 | 89.1 | 61.4 | 52.2 | 64.4 | $429,557 | $119,446 |
| 8 | Montgomery County FIPS 24031 | 68.2 | 80.3 | 36.5 | 95.7 | 100 | 40.2 | 16 | $622,527 | $132,450 |
| 9 | Anne Arundel County FIPS 24003 | 68 | 84.6 | 49.1 | 91.6 | - | 51.2 | 18.3 | $505,792 | $124,911 |
| 10 | Worcester County FIPS 24047 | 66.7 | 64.7 | 31.1 | 97.6 | 93.1 | 56.4 | 71.6 | $422,344 | $81,745 |
| 11 | Allegany County FIPS 24001 | 65.8 | 44.3 | 78.2 | 69.5 | 89.6 | 39.5 | 78 | $151,212 | $59,603 |
| 12 | Caroline County FIPS 24011 | 64 | 67.5 | 46 | 71.8 | 85.1 | 46.7 | 77.5 | $328,465 | $68,457 |
| 13 | Somerset County FIPS 24039 | 63 | 61.2 | 67.2 | 34.2 | 97.4 | 55.5 | 78.9 | $204,515 | $64,943 |
| 14 | Washington County FIPS 24043 | 62.8 | 66.7 | 51.4 | 68 | 74.6 | 52.2 | 64.8 | $327,979 | $77,747 |
| 15 | Wicomico County FIPS 24045 | 61.9 | 66.5 | 59.5 | 40.9 | 88.9 | 52.4 | 72.6 | $273,211 | $76,210 |
| 16 | Cecil County FIPS 24015 | 61 | 71 | 52.9 | 46.2 | 83.7 | 49 | 66.7 | $379,572 | $92,007 |
| 17 | Garrett County FIPS 24023 | 59.8 | 64.1 | 38.9 | 61.2 | 76.2 | 64.7 | 77.8 | $333,182 | $67,688 |
| 18 | Charles County FIPS 24017 | 59.5 | 82 | 59.6 | 53.5 | 42.6 | 40.5 | 58.9 | $450,316 | $122,816 |
| 19 | Talbot County FIPS 24041 | 59.1 | 71.8 | 24 | 55.6 | 92.4 | 63 | 77.5 | $493,297 | $84,811 |
| 20 | Baltimore County FIPS 24005 | 56.5 | 73.8 | 54 | 58.6 | - | 33.9 | 18.8 | $360,187 | $91,768 |
| 21 | Kent County FIPS 24029 | 55.2 | 66.4 | 40.2 | 30.7 | 90.6 | 47.3 | 81.4 | $382,205 | $80,147 |
| 22 | Dorchester County FIPS 24019 | 51.6 | 58 | 47.1 | 17.5 | 91.3 | 41.2 | 81.1 | $274,401 | $61,839 |
| 23 | Prince George's County FIPS 24033 | 43 | 75.7 | 46.2 | 11.8 | 44.9 | 26.8 | 14.3 | $428,633 | $101,798 |
| 24 | Baltimore city FIPS 24510 | 31.1 | 50.6 | 68.9 | 2.2 | 0 | 1 | 14.2 | $184,592 | $62,177 |