RANK #555 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 18 MD · POP 598,166
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Annapolis, the state capital and county seat, stands out in Anne Arundel County, known as "America's Sailing Capital" and home to the United States Naval Academy. Located in central Maryland, the county is situated between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offering residents access to both major cities. Commutes average around 30 minutes, with options including MTA bus and light rail services, as well as regional bus lines. With over 500 miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, the county provides extensive outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, and numerous parks like Quiet Waters Park and Sandy Point State Park.
Life in the county balances suburban living with access to city amenities. Anne Arundel County Public Schools is the fourth largest school system in Maryland, with 126 schools. The economy is driven by diverse sectors, including the defense industry centered around Fort Meade, which houses U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is also a significant employer and economic contributor. Recent economic developments include new warehouse construction along the I-95 corridor and expansion in the manufacturing sector.
Anne Arundel County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.0% YoY, population +1.2%, wages +3.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Anne Arundel County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner Generating Stations continued operation
Talen Energy
|
$50M | Operating |
|
BGE Gas Transmission MAOP Reconfirmation Program (W. Benfield Project)
BGE
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Pandora Distribution Center
Pandora
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Battery Energy Storage Systems (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., BGE, Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.)
|
$50M | Operating/Proposed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various
|
$50M | Operating/Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Anne Arundel County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#555). Median household income is $124,911 and job growth is running at +1.6%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Anne Arundel County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $467,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $2,071/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Anne Arundel County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.2% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted +1.0% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.79% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Anne Arundel County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.