Whether Maryland is a good place for you to buy depends on your budget, your commute and how long you plan to stay. What we can give you is the record. Maryland prices have risen about 269% since 1991, and 25.6% over the last five years, but they grew only 1% in the past year. Property tax bills swing widely by county, the job base leans on government and health care, and the housing stock is older than people expect.
Here are the numbers, with sources, so you can weigh them yourself. When you’re ready to look at homes, start on our buying page.
Price history
The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s house price index report for the second quarter of 2026 tracks repeat sales of the same homes, which makes it a cleaner long-run measure than a median. Its purchase-only index, through Q2 2026:
| Area | 1 year | 5 years | Since 1991 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | +1.03% | +25.60% | +268.88% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro | +2.12% | +26.37% | +274.93% |
| Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda metro division | +0.39% | +21.41% | +279.19% |
| United States | +2.1% | n/a | n/a |
Maryland ranked 40th of 50 states plus DC for one-year growth in that report. From the first quarter to the second, the state index was flat (-0.02%).
You can read that table two ways. Over 35 years, Maryland homes have more than tripled in price. Over the last year, they have barely moved, and the state lagged the national average. If you buy now, plan on holding long enough for the long-run trend to matter, and don’t count on quick appreciation.
For this month’s prices by county, see our September 2026 market update. The statewide median sale price was $432,000, up 0.5% from a year earlier, per Maryland REALTORS (as of September 2026).
Ownership costs
The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts for Maryland (2020-2024 American Community Survey) put:
- the median value of an owner-occupied home at $419,900,
- median monthly owner costs at $2,347 with a mortgage and $753 without one,
- the share of homes that are owner-occupied at 67.6%.
Property taxes are the cost that varies most by where you buy. Every Maryland owner pays the state rate of $0.112 per $100 of assessed value (July 2026 to June 2027, per SDAT), plus the county or city rate. In our seven areas, the fiscal 2027 (July 2026 to June 2027) county rates in the Department of Legislative Services table run from $0.968 per $100 in Anne Arundel County to $2.248 in Baltimore City. Our property tax guide explains assessments and the homestead credit.
You also pay transfer and recordation taxes when you buy. The same DLS table lists county transfer tax rates from 0.5% in Charles County to 1.5% in Baltimore City and Baltimore County for fiscal 2027, on top of the state transfer tax. Our closing costs post shows who pays what.
Homeowners insurance depends on the house, the roof and the insurer, so get quotes before you write an offer. Our homeowners insurance post covers what to ask.
Employment base
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Maryland economy at a glance page (September 2026, preliminary) showed:
| Measure | September 2026 | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | n/a |
| Total nonfarm jobs | 2,794,300 | -0.5% |
| Government | 527,400 | -1.5% |
| Education and health services | 508,300 | +1.2% |
| Professional and business services | 467,900 | +0.7% |
Government is about 19% of Maryland’s jobs (527,400 of 2,794,300), and it was down 1.5% from a year earlier. The Maryland Department of Labor reported 20,100 jobs added in the first eight months of 2026, a 0.7% growth rate, before the September numbers came in.
Housing stock: age and supply
Maryland’s houses are older than the national average, and in Baltimore City much older. From the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey (1-year estimates, tables B25034 and B25035):
- The median Maryland home was built in 1980 (the U.S. median is 1981).
- About 50% of Maryland’s 2.59 million housing units were built before 1980.
- About 11% were built in 2010 or later.
New supply is limited. The Census Bureau counted 13,358 building permits for new housing units in Maryland in 2025, against 2,613,933 housing units statewide as of July 2025.
An older house isn’t a bad house. It does mean you should budget for systems: roof, HVAC, electrical service and, in homes built before 1978, lead paint rules if you ever rent it out. A good inspection matters more here. See our post on home inspection costs.
Regional differences across our seven areas
| Area | Median sale price (Sept 2026) | Median year built (2024 ACS) | County property tax per $100 (FY2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County | $503,000 | 1983 | $0.968 |
| Howard County | $615,000 | 1992 | $1.250 |
| Montgomery County | $610,000 | 1980 | $1.0401 |
| Prince George’s County | $450,000 | 1978 | $1.374 |
| Charles County | $459,999 | 1994 | $1.205 |
| Baltimore City | $227,500 | 1947 | $2.248 |
| Baltimore County | $365,000 | 1973 | $1.100 |
Prices are from Maryland REALTORS (Bright MLS data), year built from the 2024 ACS, tax rates from the DLS table. Add the state’s $0.112 to each tax rate. Homes inside an incorporated town can carry a town rate as well; the property tax guide shows how to check.
The spread is wide. A Baltimore City home has the lowest median price and the oldest stock, but the highest tax rate. Howard and Charles counties have the newest stock. Montgomery and Howard have the highest prices. Both Baltimore jurisdictions are on our Baltimore City and County page.
How to decide for your situation
The numbers above won’t make the decision for you, but these questions usually do:
- How long will you stay? With prices up 1% in the past year, buying and selling within two or three years can cost more in closing costs than the house gains.
- What does the full monthly payment look like? Price, rate, taxes for that specific county and insurance. A $300,000 house in Baltimore City and a $300,000 house in Baltimore County carry very different tax bills.
- Where do you commute? The Census Bureau put Maryland’s mean travel time to work at 31.1 minutes (2020-2024). Test the drive or the train at rush hour before you commit.
- What age of house can you maintain? A 1940s rowhome and a 1990s colonial need different budgets.
- What does renting cost instead? Maryland’s median gross rent was $1,705 (2020-2024 ACS). Our cost of living guide has the income math.
This is general information. Talk to a lender about your payment and a CPA about your taxes.
Bottom line
Maryland has a long record of rising prices and a slow past year. Tax bills depend heavily on the county, and half the stock was built before 1980. Whether that adds up to a good buy depends on how long you’ll stay and which county’s tax bill and commute you’re signing up for. Pick a county on our areas page, then tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll run the numbers on real listings.
Sources
- Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA House Price Index report, 2026 Q2 (state and metro tables, purchase-only index). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Maryland REALTORS, Housing Statistics, September 2026 (Bright MLS data). Checked October 26, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Maryland (2020-2024 ACS; housing units V2025; building permits 2025). Checked October 26, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-year, tables B25034 and B25035, via Census Reporter. Checked October 26, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland economy at a glance (September 2026, preliminary). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Maryland Department of Labor, August 2026 employment release. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Maryland SDAT, Tax Rates 2026-2027 and Homestead Credit Caps. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Maryland Department of Legislative Services, county tax rate tables, FY2022-FY2027. Checked October 26, 2026.