District 8
RANK #753 / 996 NAT · #8 / 18 MD · POP 113,814
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
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 →
| 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.
At 24/100, St. Mary's County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $113,668 combined with job growth of +3.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in St. Mary's County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $376,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,595/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
St. Mary's County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.2% clip. Home values shifted +2.4% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.2% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Mary's County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.