Cost of Living in St. Mary's County, Maryland
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How St. Mary's County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
St. Mary's County ranks #3,028 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 4%)
Sourced county brief
St. Mary's County Official GRAPI at 27.9 Percent
In St. Mary's County, the official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 27.9%, which is 2.3 percentage points lower than the Maryland unweighted county mean of 30.2%. The median renter-household income was $70,538. Median gross rent was recorded at $1,747 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,459. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units were $1,884, while the state unweighted mean was $1,660. The median home value was estimated at $407,600, which is $37,583 above the state unweighted county mean of $370,017. These data points provide a statistical snapshot for the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: St. Mary's County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.9% of renter household income in St. Mary's County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,747 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,884. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $69,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Maryland unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,459 per month. St. Mary's County's $1,747 median is 19.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in St. Mary's County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,787
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.9%
of gross income
The median home in St. Mary's County may be a stretch
Median home value is $407,600. Estimated monthly cost: $3,254 vs. your max of $2,787.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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