RANK #626 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 18 MD · POP 51,825
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Queen Anne's County, Maryland, offers a blend of historic charm and waterfront living on the Eastern Shore, easily accessible via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Stevensville, on Kent Island, serves as a dynamic hub with a mix of historic architecture and modern conveniences, while Centreville, the county seat, boasts a preserved historic downtown. The county provides extensive outdoor recreation, including over 265 miles of waterfront, numerous parks, and trails like the Cross Island Trail, which offers views of the Chesapeake Bay and Chester River. Commuting to Annapolis, Baltimore, or Washington, D.C., is possible, with MTA Commuter Bus routes available from Kent Island.
Life in Queen Anne's County appeals to families, retirees, and those seeking an Eastern Shore lifestyle. The public school system is highly rated, with a focus on academic achievement and extracurricular activities. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture and maritime industries, has seen recent growth in wholesale, manufacturing, and construction sectors. The county has also invested in infrastructure, including school renovations, a new Board of Education building, and planning for a regional hospital, supporting both residents and businesses.
Queen Anne's 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 +1.5% 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
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 25.8x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 37/100, Queen Anne's County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $112,826 suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Queen Anne's County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $462,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,619/month on average.
Queen Anne's County's population is growing — up +1.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of 0.0%). Home values shifted +1.5% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.88% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Queen Anne's County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.