Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012)

This article, the nineteenth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Maryland based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Maryland, eight are suburbs of Washington, D.C., four are suburbs of Frederick, three are suburbs of Baltimore, three are edge cities of Washington, D.C., one is the state capitol of Annapolis, and one is a suburb of Annapolis. By county, seven of the best places to live in Maryland are located in Prince George's County, six in Montgomery County, three in or partially in Carroll County, three in or partially in Frederick County, and one each in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Maryland (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated as new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Chevy Chase Village, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 2,058

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $178,317
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 92.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.78

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 38 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 38 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 38 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 8 miles SSE

2. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Chevy Chase, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 2,816

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $147,661
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 90.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.76*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 38 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 38 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 38 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 8 miles SSE

3. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Poolesville, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 2,434

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $96,859
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 83.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.76*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 61 miles ESE
Baltimore, MD: 57 miles ENE
Frederick, MD: 21 miles N
Washington, DC: 31 miles SE

4. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - University Park, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 2,434

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $96,859
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 83.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 9.22

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 27 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 32 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 48 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 20 miles SSW

5. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Middletown, MD (Frederick County)

Population: 2,869

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $97,211
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.34*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 77 miles SE
Baltimore, MD: 56 miles ESE
Frederick, MD: 8 miles ESE
Washington, DC: 55 SSE

6. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Rockville, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 59,825

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $77,780
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.18*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 46 miles ESE
Baltimore, MD: 46 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 29 miles SSE
Washington, DC: 20 miles SSE

7. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Mount Airy, MD (Carroll and Frederick Counties)

Population: 8,727

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $95,689
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.56*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 57 miles SE
Baltimore, MD: 36 miles ESE
Frederick, MD: 16 miles WNW
Washington, DC: 45 miles S

8. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Gaithersburg, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 58,632

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,318
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.26*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 48 miles ESE
Baltimore, MD: 46 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 23 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 27 miles SSE

9. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Sykesville, MD (Carroll County)

Population: 4,427

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,805
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 32.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.93

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 47 miles SE
Baltimore, MD: 27 miles ESE
Frederick, MD: 31 miles WNW
Washington, DC: 55 miles SSE

10. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Bowie, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 53,572

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $74,987
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 45.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.85

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 20 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 27 miles NNE
Frederick, MD: 54 miles NW
Washington, DC: 19 miles SE

11. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Hampstead, MD (Carroll County)

Population: 5,423

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,485
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 35.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.18

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 55 miles SSE
Baltimore, MD: 29 miles SSE
Frederick, MD: 40 miles SW
Washington, DC: 60 miles SSW

12. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Walkersville, MD (Frederick County)

Population: 5,597

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,652
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 31.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.34*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 78 miles SW
Baltimore, MD: 57 miles ESE
Frederick, MD: 7 miles SSW
Washington, DC: 55 miles SSE

13. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Takoma Park, MD (Montgomery County)

Population: 17,752

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $57,082
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.65

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 30 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 34 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 43 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 8 miles S

14. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Chesapeake Beach, MD (Calvert County)

Population: 3,396

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,359
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.16*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 28 miles N
Baltimore, MD: 52 miles N
Frederick, MD: 82 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 35 miles NW

15. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Annapolis, MD (Anne Arundel County)

Population: 36,607

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $65,227
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.6

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baltimore, MD: 26 miles NNW
Frederick, MD: 68 miles NW
Washington, DC: 32 miles WSW

16. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Berwyn Heights, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 2,997

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $68,633
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.58

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 26 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 28 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 47 miles NW
Washington, DC: 12 miles SW

17. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - College Park, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 27,202

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $50,263
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 11.88*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 30 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 32 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 47 miles NW
Washington, DC: 10 miles SW

18. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Cheverly, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 6,521

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $60,880
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 44.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 15.71

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 26 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 32 miles NNE
Frederick, MD: 53 miles NNW
Washington, DC: 9 miles WSW

19. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Greenbelt, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 21,536

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $47,026
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 43.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 17.88

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 26 miles E
Baltimore, MD: 28 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 47 miles NW
Washington, DC: 14 miles SW

20. Best Places to Live in Maryland (2012) - Laurel, MD (Prince George's County)

Population: 22,127

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $48,679
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 36.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 17.36

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Annapolis, MD: 28 miles SE
Baltimore, MD: 22 miles NE
Frederick, MD: 47 miles NW
Washington, DC: 22 miles SSW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Maryland," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation