Most Affordable Cities in Maryland

The lowest cost of living across home prices, rent, services and rent burden.

Retirees Remote Workers Families Young Professionals Affordability All Rankings →
All United States  ·  Maryland

How We Score

Each metric is normalized 0-100 across U.S. cities, then weighted and summed. Cities missing any metric are excluded.

Home Prices · 30% Rent · 20% Cost Index · 25% Rent Burden · 15% Jobs · 10%

Top 12 Affordability Cities in Maryland

Ranked by composite score across 5 weighted metrics.

#1
Score 66.2
Bel Air, MD
1,894 residents
Home Prices $189,700
Rent $761
Cost Index 105
#2
Score 66
Westernport, MD
1,864 residents
Home Prices $85,800
Rent $727
Cost Index 105
#3
Score 65.5
Oakland, MD
2,043 residents
Home Prices $247,100
Rent $631
Cost Index 105
#4
Score 65
Cresaptown, MD
5,238 residents
Home Prices $148,400
Rent $838
Cost Index 105
#5
Score 63.9
La Vale, MD
4,388 residents
Home Prices $171,300
Rent $923
Cost Index 105
#6
Score 63.3
Bowling Green, MD
1,096 residents
Home Prices $123,600
Rent $852
Cost Index 105
#7
Score 62.6
Mountain Lake Park, MD
2,033 residents
Home Prices $199,200
Rent $720
Cost Index 105
#8
Score 62.2
Bowmans Addition, MD
1,149 residents
Home Prices $177,500
Rent $1,290
Cost Index 105
#9
Score 61.8
Rock Hall, MD
1,286 residents
Home Prices $245,400
Rent $808
Cost Index 105
#10
Score 61.7
Emmitsburg, MD
2,855 residents
Home Prices $300,900
Rent $777
Cost Index 105
#11
Score 61.6
Crisfield, MD
2,468 residents
Home Prices $137,100
Rent $725
Cost Index 105
#12
Score 61.6
Long Beach, MD
1,981 residents
Home Prices $391,300
Rent $1,590
Cost Index 105

Full Ranking, Maryland

Top 50 cities. Click any city to see its full profile.

1 Bel Air MD 66.2
2 Westernport MD 66
3 Oakland MD 65.5
4 Cresaptown MD 65
5 La Vale MD 63.9
6 Bowling Green MD 63.3
7 Mountain Lake Park MD 62.6
8 Bowmans Addition MD 62.2
9 Rock Hall MD 61.8
10 Emmitsburg MD 61.7
11 Crisfield MD 61.6
12 Long Beach MD 61.6
13 Pocomoke City MD 61.5
14 Cumberland MD 60.9
15 Smithsburg MD 60.8
16 Boonsboro MD 60.4
17 Frostburg MD 60.2
18 Maugansville MD 60.1
19 Lonaconing MD 59.9
20 Church Hill MD 59.7
21 Williamsport MD 59.6
22 Paramount-Long Meadow MD 59.4
23 Perryville MD 59.3
24 Lusby MD 59.2
25 Hurlock MD 58.9
26 Colmar Manor MD 58.6
27 St. James MD 58.6
28 Ridgely MD 58.6
29 Greensboro MD 58.4
30 Delmar MD 58.2
31 Berlin MD 58.2
32 Woodsboro MD 58.2
33 Jefferson MD 58.1
34 Pittsville MD 58.1
35 Brunswick MD 58.1
36 Arbutus MD 58
37 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills MD 58
38 Charlestown MD 57.9
39 Riverside MD 57.8
40 Thurmont MD 57.6
41 Joppatowne MD 57.5
42 Mechanicsville MD 57.5
43 Keedysville MD 57.5
44 Peppermill Village MD 57.4
45 Hagerstown MD 57.4
46 Rising Sun MD 57.2
47 Overlea MD 57.1
48 Easton MD 57
49 Cambridge MD 56.9
50 Robinwood MD 56.9

Bel Air, MD tops the list with a composite score of 66.2 out of 100, followed by Westernport and Oakland. MD dominates the top 12 with 12 cities, reflecting strong performance across the weighted metrics for affordability.

Rankings combine 5 independent metrics: Home Prices, Rent, Cost Index, Rent Burden, Jobs. Cities are weighted to reflect what matters most to affordability, and any city missing one or more metrics is excluded to avoid artificially inflated rankings.

Explore Other Best Cities Rankings

Best Cities for Retirees
Low crime, warm climate, affordable cost of living and strong healthcare access.
Best Cities for Remote Workers
Strong broadband, affordable rent, low traffic and existing remote-work culture.
Best Cities for Families
Strong schools, low crime, affordable homes and family-friendly commutes.
Best Cities for Young Professionals
High incomes, educated peers, transit access and an under-35 demographic.

Related Single-Metric Rankings

Lowest Rent → Lowest Income → Safest Cities →