The 20 Worst Places to Live in Maryland
In Maryland there are some amazing places to live that offer residents a fantastic lifestyle. On the other hand, there are also some less desirable places that have issues that deter people from living in those locations.
Some of the factors that determine if somewhere is an undesirable place in which to live are the crime rates, poor educational opportunities, high unemployment, and a lack of leisure activities. Based on statistics relating to each of these factors, here are the 20 worst places to live in Maryland.
20. Frederick
Frederick is a city in Frederick County in Western Maryland. It has a population of 70,166. Frederick is both the 20th worst place to live in Maryland and the 20th most dangerous place to live in the state.
Property crimes are the most prevalent type of crime, as it has the 15th most violent crimes in Maryland, while it does not rank in the top 20 locations in terms of property crimes. If you can get over the crime issues, then Frederick has many features in its favor. It is known for its outdoor spaces and its historic attractions, the schools are excellent, and there is a fantastic night scene.
19. Takoma Park
Takoma Park is a suburb of Washington D.C. in Montgomery County, and it has a population of 17,622. One of the most significant issues in this area is the high crime rate, as Takoma Park is the 18th most dangerous place to live in Maryland.
Although crime is a problem in this location, Takoma Park also has some good features. It is a good option for families as there are highly-rated public schools and a wide range of family-oriented activities to enjoy. There is also a great night scene, employment opportunities in various industries, strong transport links, and community diversity.
18. Westminster
Located in Carroll County, Westminster is a town with a population of 18,553 residents. Westminster is the 17th most dangerous place to live in Maryland, so it deserves its position on this list. It also has limited job opportunities in the area.
However, if you can set the safety and employment issues aside, there are many good features of this location. It is potentially a fantastic place to live for families, as there are many family-oriented activities and outstanding public schools. Other positive features include the diverse community, the lively night scene, and good transport links.
17. Fruitland
Although Fruitland does not rank in the top 20 locations in Maryland for violent crime rates, it does have the eighth-highest property crime rates in the state. Another problem in Fruitland is a lack of job opportunities across a variety of industries.
On the other hand, there are many features of Fruitland that mean it can offer a good lifestyle. The public schools are above-average, there is a vibrant nightlife, the community is diverse, and there are things to do for people of all ages.
16. Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a suburb of Baltimore that is home to 15,701 people. Violent crimes are the greatest concern, as this city has the seventh-highest violent crime rate compared to only the 19th most property crimes.
The combined crime statistics rank Aberdeen as the 12th most dangerous place to live in Maryland. However, there are many positive aspects of life in Aberdeen, says Long and Foster. Not only is there a diverse community and decent schools, but there are also many entertainment options in and around Aberdeen.
15. Annapolis
One of the biggest problems in Annapolis is violent crimes, as the city has the eighth-highest violent crime rate in the state. The cost of living is also considering that this Baltimore suburb is considered an undesirable area, which is because of its proximity to the city and the positive features of Annapolis.
Some of these include above-average schools, activities for people of all ages, and decent job opportunities. Annapolis has a population of 39,147.
14. Laurel
As Laurel is the 10th most dangerous place to live in Maryland, seeing it included on this list is not unexpected. Sadly a lack of safety is not the only area of concern in Laurel, as the public schools are also below par.
On the other hand, Laurel has many activities to enjoy, and there are good employment opportunities in a variety of sectors. According to Niche, Laurel is a suburb of Washington D.C. with a population of 25,834.
13. La Plata
La Plata is a suburb of Washington D.C, and it is home to 9,252. The lack of safety is one of the primary concerns, as La Plata is the ninth-most dangerous place to live in Maryland.
This location does not rank higher on the list because it has many positive features. These include excellent public schools, community diversity, a strong job market, and various activities and attractions for residents.
12. Hyattsville
Hyattsville is one of the locations that you may expect to land higher on the list, as it is the seventh-most dangerous place to live in Maryland. Property crime is the biggest problem, as Hyattsville has the third-highest property crime rate in the state.
The public schools in Hyattsville are also below average. This Washington D.C. suburb is saved from appearing higher on the list as it has a vibrant nightlife, plenty of activities for residents to enjoy, good transport links, and a diverse community.
11. Ocean City
It is surprising that Ocean City does not rank higher on this list, as it is the most dangerous place to live in Maryland. Safety is a huge concern to residents of this city, as it has the most property crimes in the state and the second-highest violent crime rates.
It also has a lack of employment opportunities across a variety of sectors. However, Ocean City has some plus points that prevent it from appearing higher on the list. For example, the schools are highly rated, and there is a good choice of leisure and entertainment options in the area.
10. Greenbelt
Greenbelt is home to 23,203 people, and it makes it into the top ten worst places to live in Maryland. Crime is just one of several issues in Greenbelt, and it is the 13th most dangerous place to live in Maryland, with both violent crime and property crime ranking in the 13th position. It also has the 10th worst median home value in the state.
Education is another area of concern as the public schools are underfunded and perform poorly. Greenbelt was built by the Federal government as one of three controversial and experimental New Deal Greenbelt Towns. Greenbelt was both the first and largest of the three cities, and the other two are Greenhills in Ohio and Greendale in Wisconsin.
9. Cumberland
One of the greatest problems in Cumberland is the lack of safety, as it has the fifth-highest property crime rate and the sixth-most violent crimes in Maryland. However, economic problems are also good reasons for Cumberland to appear in the top ten on this list.
It has the second-highest unemployment rate and the worst median home value in Maryland. Cumberland has a population of 19,845 people. Cumberland is in Allegany County, and it has 103,299 residents.
8. Baltimore
It is only the positive features of Baltimore that prevent it from ranking higher on the list, as it is the fourth-most dangerous place to live in Maryland. Violent crimes are the biggest issue in this city, as it has the highest violent crime rate anywhere in the state. However, property crimes are also an issue, as Baltimore has the sixth-highest property crime rate in the state.
The low median home value is a sign of Baltimore’s undesirability, as it has the fourth-lowest median home value in the state. Baltimore also has the sixth highest unemployment rate in Maryland. On the plus side, there are multiple leisure activities to enjoy, so many people find that this city offers a good lifestyle.
7. Riverdale Park
As Riverdale Park only just makes it onto the list of the 20 most dangerous places to live based on FBI statistics, it may surprise you to see this location rank so highly on the list of the worst places to live in Maryland.
However, Riverdale Park has many other issues beyond crime rates. Further issues in Riverdale Park include high unemployment, low median home values, and a below-average median household income.
Riverdale Park is a semi-urban town in Prince George’s County that is often referred to simply as Riverdale and has a population of 7,225 residents.
6. Mount Rainier
The lack of employment opportunities in Mount Rainier is one of the reasons why Mount Rainier is considered an undesirable place to live. It has the ninth-highest unemployment rate at 7.7 percent. A further issue in Mount Rainier is the lack of safety, as this location has the 12th most property crimes and the 16th most violent crime rates in the state.
5. Hagerstown
Hagerstown is a town in Washington County, and it has a population of 39,662. Unemployment is one of the biggest problems in Hagerstown, as it has the fourth-worst unemployment rate at 9.4 percent.
This location also has the second-lowest median home value. Although crime is not Hagerstown’s biggest problem, the crime rates are high enough to make them worth mentioning. It has the 10th highest violent crime rate and the 16th most property crimes in the state, so it ranks as the 14th most dangerous place to live in Maryland overall.
4. Bladensburg
Bladensburg is in Prince George’s County, and 9,148 people live in this town. The main issue in Bladensburg is the high crime rates, as it is the eighth-most dangerous place to live in Maryland. However, it also has a high unemployment rate. On the other hand, those who are in work have a reasonable median household income. Educational opportunities are also an area of concern, as the schools in Bladensburg perform below average.
3. Salisbury
One of the reasons that Salisbury is on the list of the worst places to live in Maryland is the lack of safety. It is the sixth-most dangerous place to live as it has the fifth highest violent crime rate and the seventh-most property crimes in the state.
The unemployment rate is also high, at 7.3 percent. A sign of the area’s undesirability is the low median home value, which is the third-worst in the state at $154,300. Another problem is education, as there is a low teacher-student ratio in the state.
2. Cambridge
Cambridge’s position on this list is unsurprising as it is the third-most dangerous place to live in Maryland. All types of crime are high, as this location has the fourth-most property crimes and the third-highest violent crime rate.
Unfortunately, crime is not the only problem in Cambridge. It also has the fifth-highest unemployment rate at 9.3 percent and the sixth-worst median home value. Furthermore, the median household income is the third lowest in Maryland. Zippia lists Cambridge as one of the worst places to live in Maryland for women, as they earn significantly less than their male counterparts, and just over a quarter of women live in poverty.
1. Elkton
According to Road Snacks, Elkton is the worst place to live in Maryland, and there are several reasons that it ranks in the top position. First, it is the second most dangerous place to live in Maryland, as it has the second-highest property crime rates and the fourth-most violent crimes in the state.
Another problem is educational opportunities, and these are not fantastic at this location. Furthermore, the unemployment rate is the 10th highest in Maryland, and both the median household income and the median home value are low.
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