Worst Small Towns In Maryland For 2020


Using science and data, we can tell you which teeny specks in MD are the pits.

Sam Sparkes, RoadSnacks
December 27, 2019 - 33,160 views
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Editor’s Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out we updated this article for 2020. This is our sixth time ranking the worst small places to live in Maryland.

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Most Americans have never been to Maryland. However, as the people who live there know, Maryland is an awesome state.

But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Maryland has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Old Line State. Don't shoot the messenger, this is all using data.

After analyzing more than 106 of Maryland's smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Maryland where you'd never want to live:

So what is the worst small town to call home in maryland for 2020? According to the most recent census data, Crisfield is the worst small town to live in Maryland.

Of course, many of these cities would rank highly if they were in other states, since Maryland has its stuff figured out.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.

And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Maryland or the worst places to live in Maryland.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.

The 10 Worst Small Towns In Maryland For 2020

1. Crisfield

Crisfield, MD

Source: Wikipedia User Acroterion | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,593
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $103,100 (4th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 14.4% (4th worst)
More on Crisfield:  Data | Photos

2. Wilson-Conococheague

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,330
Rank Last Year: -
Median Home Value: $148,200 (15th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 8.8% (20th worst)
More on Wilson-Conococheague:  Data

3. Perryman

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,712
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $197,800 (28th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 9.9% (14th worst)
More on Perryman:  Data

4. Hurlock

Hurlock, MD

Source: Wikipedia
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,327
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $144,300 (13th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 10.9% (12th worst)
More on Hurlock:  Data | Photos

5. Hancock

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,481
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $114,800 (6th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 8.4% (24th worst)
More on Hancock:  Data

6. Federalsburg

Federalsburg, MD

Source: Wikipedia User Don Woods | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,665
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $126,800 (8th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 9.7% (17th worst)
More on Federalsburg:  Data | Photos

7. Denton

Denton, MD

Source: Wikipedia User AMK1211 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,406
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $185,000 (24th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 8.4% (25th worst)
More on Denton:  Data | Photos

8. Snow Hill

Snow Hill, MD

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,143
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 7)
Median Home Value: $165,300 (22nd worst)
Unemployment Rate: 11.3% (11th worst)
More on Snow Hill:  Data | Photos

9. Greensboro

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,476
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $145,800 (14th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 7.2% (35th worst)
More on Greensboro:  Data

10. Pocomoke City

Pocomoke City, MD

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,082
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 7)
Median Home Value: $127,800 (9th worst)
Unemployment Rate: 5.5% (56th worst)
More on Pocomoke City:  Data | Photos

How do you decide if a place is lousy or not?

In order to rank the worst small towns to live in Maryland, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. It isn't a stretch to assume that people like low crime, solid education, things to do and a stable economy.

So we scraped the internet for those criteria, and it spit out the answer. Like magic.

How we determined the worst small towns to live in Maryland for 2020

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using FBI crime data and the Census's 2014-2018 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (The lower the worse)
  • Highest Unemployment Rates
  • Low housing costs (meaning there's no demand)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
  • Education (Number of high school dropouts)
  • High Crime

We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which, there were a lot - 106 to be exact.

Additional note: We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets its crime numbers from the cities themselves. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased.

There You Have It - The Worst Small Towns In Maryland

If you're analyzing teeny places in the Old Line State with the worst economic situations, where there's high crime and there's not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

If you're curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Maryland, according to science:

  1. Chevy Chase (Pop. 2,965)
  2. Chevy Chase Village (Pop. 1,943)
  3. Somerset (Pop. 1,136)

For more Maryland reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Worst Small Towns In Maryland

Rank Town Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
1 Crisfield 2,593 14.4% $103,100
2 Wilson-Conococheague 2,330 8.8% $148,200
3 Perryman 2,712 9.9% $197,800
4 Hurlock 2,327 10.9% $144,300
5 Hancock 1,481 8.4% $114,800
6 Federalsburg 2,665 9.7% $126,800
7 Denton 4,406 8.4% $185,000
8 Snow Hill 2,143 11.3% $165,300
9 Greensboro 2,476 7.2% $145,800
10 Pocomoke City 4,082 5.5% $127,800
11 Delmar 3,172 10.7% $120,500
12 Princess Anne 3,444 8.7% $151,800
13 Westernport 2,018 12.9% $69,200
14 Ridgely 1,558 6.4% $163,900
15 Mountain Lake Park 2,148 9.4% $140,900
16 Prince Frederick 3,189 15.3% $299,400
17 Oakland 1,823 3.9% $154,000
18 Pittsville 1,433 4.7% $128,200
19 Colmar Manor 1,398 9.9% $206,500
20 Trappe 1,210 4.5% $212,300
21 Fairmount Heights 1,789 13.9% $222,500
22 Seat Pleasant 4,759 8.3% $188,900
23 Rock Hall 1,361 7.6% $196,200
24 Hebron 1,218 9.7% $144,000
25 Capitol Heights 4,512 11.7% $214,500
26 Charlotte Hall 2,026 5.9% $241,300
27 Morningside 1,238 11.7% $194,400
28 Lonaconing 1,194 8.1% $79,600
29 Williamsport 2,264 3.7% $151,500
30 Landover Hills 1,833 6.6% $224,900
31 Edmonston 1,354 3.6% $246,000
32 Lusby 1,994 9.4% $283,600
33 Marlboro Meadows 3,487 7.2% $265,900
34 Algonquin 1,257 12.8% $215,800
35 West Ocean City 4,319 6.0% $299,200
36 Peppermill Village 4,628 8.3% $226,600
37 Drum Point 2,692 14.5% $261,900
38 Cavetown 1,117 1.2% $211,400
39 Bel Air 1,524 3.7% $154,000
40 Bowling Green 1,198 6.3% $104,500
41 Silver Hill 4,921 5.6% $180,600
42 Rising Sun 2,812 4.6% $215,900
43 Charle 1,391 3.1% $246,300
44 Forest Heights 2,573 8.7% $215,900
45 North East 3,624 4.5% $198,600
46 Boonsboro 3,500 7.9% $261,100
47 St. Michaels 1,057 7.0% $336,800
48 Maugansville 3,122 4.5% $202,000
49 Konterra 2,853 5.3% $344,500
50 Emmitsburg 3,058 6.2% $246,400
51 National Harbor 4,322 6.9% $337,800
52 Melwood 3,656 3.7% $267,900
53 Brentwood 3,468 3.2% $282,500
54 Berwyn Heights 3,257 5.8% $292,900
55 La Vale 3,421 2.2% $155,200
56 Potomac Heights 1,190 2.4% $78,800
57 Baden 1,712 3.9% $381,200
58 Mechanicsville 1,765 4.4% $340,400
59 North Beach 2,594 13.4% $304,800
60 Croom 2,490 3.4% $439,700
61 Berlin 4,606 4.3% $235,800
62 Grasonville 3,556 1.9% $306,100
63 Indian Head 3,819 5.2% $208,400
64 Long Beach 2,015 3.9% $286,400
65 Woodsboro 1,077 2.9% $314,200
66 Leonar 3,678 5.5% $398,300
67 Jarrettsville 2,992 5.4% $429,600
68 Perryville 4,395 4.4% $230,200
69 Dunkirk 2,449 8.2% $422,400
70 Chester 4,573 4.4% $332,400
71 Jefferson 2,155 6.5% $315,400
72 St. James 3,100 3.2% $242,500
73 Smithsburg 2,964 4.5% $232,600
74 Braddock Heights 3,258 3.0% $346,700
75 New Windsor 1,341 3.1% $267,800
76 Layhill 4,836 7.1% $432,100
77 Hughesville 2,105 0.0% $420,300
78 Buckeystown 1,318 6.6% $404,300
79 Paramount-Long Meadow 2,981 4.3% $273,500
80 Golden Beach 2,875 0.6% $286,700
81 Solomons 2,113 6.7% $465,400
82 Kingsville 4,404 3.3% $424,700
83 Deale 4,905 4.0% $344,100
84 Manchester 4,836 1.6% $283,400
85 Woodmore 4,541 3.1% $414,400
86 Gambrills 2,829 2.4% $455,400
87 Centreville 4,678 1.0% $328,100
88 Adamstown 2,263 6.9% $439,100
89 Myersville 1,838 3.8% $334,000
90 University Park 2,641 3.9% $468,100
91 Herald Harbor 2,615 5.7% $444,100
92 Fulton 4,429 2.6% $641,300
93 New Market 1,295 1.3% $420,700
94 Keedysville 1,154 2.5% $282,900
95 Riva 4,027 4.8% $485,200
96 Sykesville 3,944 2.7% $365,700
97 Huntingtown 3,609 1.6% $427,600
98 Middl 4,553 5.0% $410,300
99 Hampton 4,725 1.7% $454,800
100 Cabin John 2,085 4.8% $902,100
Download The Entire Maryland Ranking Data

How Is The Area In ?

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