RANK #635 / 996 · POP 113,814 · MD
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.3%
Maryland's first county, St. Mary's County, holds the distinction of being the birthplace of religious freedom in North America, established by English Catholics in 1634. Leonardtown, the county seat and only incorporated town, offers waterfront access and an Arts and Entertainment District. Located in Southern Maryland, the county is a peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay, the Patuxent River, and the Potomac River, providing over 500 miles of shoreline. This geography lends itself to extensive outdoor recreation, including fishing, kayaking, and exploring numerous state parks like Point Lookout State Park and Greenwell State Park. Commute options include local transit services and Maryland Transit Administration commuter bus routes to Washington, D.C.
Life in St. Mary's County blends a traditional, water-oriented lifestyle with a growing technology sector. The community is often described as close-knit, particularly for families. St. Mary's County Public Schools serve over 17,000 students across 32 schools, including high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and a vocational technical school. The local economy is significantly influenced by the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, a major employer, and a concentration of aerospace and defense contractors. This has fostered growth in aviation, advanced manufacturing, and autonomous systems industries. Educational institutions like St. Mary's College of Maryland and the College of Southern Maryland also contribute to the area's economic and community landscape.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) Building
University Systems of Maryland at Southern Maryland
|
$87M | Operating |
|
The Meadows Townhouse Community
Turner Development and Map Properties
|
$50M | Planned |
|
County Capital Improvement Program (Schools, Roads, Public Facilities)
St. Mary's County Government
|
$50M | Planned/Under Construction |
|
Broadband Infrastructure Expansion
Various (Breezeline, Comcast, ThinkBig, Verizon FIOS)
|
$50M | Under Construction/Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
St. Mary's County has a Boom Town Index score of 36/100, ranking #635 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.2% and a median household income of $113,668, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in St. Mary's County is $376,900 with median rent at $1,595/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3016, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.2%. Home values changed +2.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.2% of St. Mary's County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.