RANK #810 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 18 MD · POP 850,796
1YR FORECAST: -0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Towson, the county seat, offers a bustling downtown with shops, restaurants, and Towson University. Baltimore County, Maryland, partly surrounds but does not include Baltimore City, providing a blend of suburban and rural environments. Commuting to Baltimore City is feasible, with options like I-695, I-95, and I-83, as well as MARC train and Light Rail services. The county features diverse communities, from waterfront areas to rolling hills and farmland, with abundant parks, trails, and green spaces like Loch Raven Reservoir for outdoor recreation.
Life in Baltimore County appeals to families and young professionals, with highly-rated public schools. The county's economy is diversified, with major sectors including education, government, and healthcare. Recent economic developments show investment in areas such as data centers, energy, and manufacturing. While residents express concerns about housing costs and utility bills, the county maintains a competitive transportation network and access to global markets.
Baltimore County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.1% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.9x — 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: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center in Woodlawn (Proposed)
Undisclosed
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
US Wind Offshore Wind Component Manufacturing Facility at Sparrows Point
US Wind
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Northeast - Riverside 230 kV Battery Project
Undisclosed
|
$189M | Planned |
|
Hernwood Landfill Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Baltimore County scores just 18/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #810 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -1.4% and median household income of $91,768 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Baltimore County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $349,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,627/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Baltimore County's job market is contracting (-1.4% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.1% change). Home values are +1.1% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.56% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Baltimore County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.