Maryland’s population continues to grow, but the places attracting new residents are changing. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the state added roughly 20,000 residents, representing a 0.3% increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates.
Much of that growth is happening beyond the expensive suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. More households are looking toward smaller towns, growing suburban communities, and Eastern Shore destinations where they can find more living space, relatively affordable housing, and easier access to outdoor recreation.
From Frederick in western Maryland to coastal communities in Worcester County, several areas are attracting people relocating within the state and from neighboring regions.
Quick Guide
- State: Maryland
- Category: Population Growth and Travel Destinations
- Based On: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates, American Community Survey, and IRS migration data cited in the original report
- Includes: Frederick, Hagerstown, Waldorf, Leonardtown, Stevensville, Elkton, and Berlin
- Best For: People interested in Maryland communities, relocation trends, small-town living, and regional travel
- Note: Population figures come from different reporting periods and data sources. Population growth does not necessarily mean every community has experienced the same level of housing demand.
- Source: worldatlas
Here are seven Maryland places experiencing population growth and drawing new residents, based on recent population estimates and migration information.
7.Berlin and Worcester County
Worcester County has Maryland’s only Atlantic coastline, and it continues to draw retirees and remote workers to the shore. The county grew from 52,460 residents in 2020 to an estimated 54,459 by 2025, a 3.8% increase, per Census Vintage 2025. Berlin itself grew from 5,026 residents in the 2020 Census to an estimated 5,335 by 2025.
The county’s gains come from steady coastal inflow, including retirees from the Baltimore and Washington suburbs. Berlin supplies the historic downtown that shapes the county’s appeal. Nearby, Ocean Pines remains the county’s largest community and one of the Eastern Shore’s biggest retiree centers. New arrivals increasingly include remote workers who no longer need to commute daily.
They trade inland Maryland for a short drive to the beach at Ocean City. Berlin’s Main Street district has restored storefronts that won the town a national “coolest small town” title in 2014. Atlantic General Hospital serves the area from Berlin, and Assateague Island National Seashore sits to the south, where wild horses share the dunes with summer visitors.
6. Elkton and Cecil County
Cecil County occupies Maryland’s northeastern corner, where the state meets Pennsylvania and Delaware. It grew from 103,725 residents in 2020 to an estimated 107,131 by 2025, per Census Vintage 2025. The county gained residents every year of that span. Elkton itself rose from 15,807 residents in the 2020 Census to an estimated 16,670 by 2025. The county’s main draw is price.
Its in-state arrivals include movers from Baltimore and Harford counties, per IRS migration data. More residents also arrive from Delaware and Pennsylvania across the nearby state lines. Housing here ranks among the most affordable along the Interstate 95 spine between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Elkton’s median household income, near $58,640, runs well under the statewide figure.
Many residents commute across state lines to Newark and Wilmington in Delaware. Elkton’s historic Main Street earned the town its nickname as the Elopement Capital of the East Coast, a holdover from its no-wait marriage era. The Penn Line commuter rail stops at nearby Perryville, adding a link to Baltimore………Read full article
