So, you’re curious about living in Maryland? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Maryland.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Maryland matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Maryland is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Maryland
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Maryland is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Maryland:
- The culture is diverse.
- There are lots of universities and colleges with great academic programs.
- Its close proximity to Washington D.C.
- Baltimore has so much history that you’ll never run out of things to do!
- There are plenty of museums, theaters, parks-including one right on the water for boating enthusiasts!
- You can find live crabs from your favorite seafood place down by the docks or try some pulled pork in Annapolis – but whatever you eat make sure you have Old Bay seasoning on hand.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Maryland:
- It’s not as affordable as other states.
- Traffic is usually pretty terrible.
- Winters can be harsh.
- Summers can be hot and humid.
Read More: Is Maryland a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Maryland
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Maryland? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Maryland!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Maryland.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Maryland:
- Baltimore
- Bowie
- South Kensington
Read More: Best Places to Live in Maryland
Checklist for Moving to Maryland
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Maryland. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Maryland.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Maryland:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Maryland driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Maryland
- Getting Maryland car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Maryland and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Maryland.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Maryland and your previous home state.
Visit your Maryland Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Maryland Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Maryland.
Things to Know About Living in Maryland
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Maryland, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Maryland
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Maryland ranks 44th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 124.4, meaning it’s a relatively expensive place to live.
Here is how Maryland scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries:108.7
- Housing: 171.3
- Utilities: 104
- Transportation: 110.5
- Health: 83.3
- Miscellaneous: 108
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Maryland
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Maryland from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Maryland’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%.
Check with the Maryland tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Maryland
If you own or plan to own real estate in Maryland, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Maryland ranks 31st (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.09%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Maryland tax office for the most current tax rates.
Maryland’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Maryland is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Maryland ranks 15th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Wholesale trade
- Information
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
The top employer in Maryland is Johns Hopkins Institutions.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Maryland
Our Maryland moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Maryland is Fort McHenry.
National Monuments that you can find in Maryland include:
- Fort McHenry National Monument
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Maryland
Maryland is the 7th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Pennsylvania, to its south is Virginia, to its east is Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean, and to its west is West Virginia.
What is the capital of Maryland?
The capital of Maryland is Annapolis.
Annapolis is located in Anne Arundel County with a population of 38,394.
What is the population of Maryland?
The population of Maryland based on 2020 US Census data is 6,177,224.
What is the largest city in Maryland?
The largest city in Maryland is Baltimore.
Baltimore has a population of 594,282.
What is the size of Maryland?
Maryland is 12,406, making it the 42nd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Maryland?
The state motto of Maryland is: Fatti maschi, parole femmine / Scuto bonae voluntatis coronasti nos / crescite et multiplicamini
What is the state bird of Maryland?
The state bird of Maryland is the Baltimore oriole.
What is the state flower of Maryland?
The state flower of Maryland is the Black-eyed susan.
What is the state tree of Maryland?
The state tree of Maryland is the White Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Maryland?
The minimum wage in Maryland is $11.75 per hour.
What is the median income in Maryland?
The median annual household salary in Maryland is $83,242.