The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland - 2018 Ranking!

With its sprawling mountains to the west, beaches on the Atlantic ocean, and dozens of historic Civil War sites, Maryland is such a historical state with so much to offer, and it lends itself to being a relatively safe state overall too.

Because of its location near Washington D.C., Maryland’s residents tend to work in the service sectors. Maryland is commonly referred to as “America in Miniature” and sometimes “Little America”. It is a major leader in computers, communication, and high-tech industries.

Maryland is a very family-friendly state with lots of events, festivals, as well as indoor and outdoor activities that create a close-knit community and a sense of belonging. The climate varies, but is very pleasant in the summertime and has a decent amount of snow during wintertime.  

Whether you were a nature enthusiast, a history buff, or a thrill seeker, there’s a lot to see and do in the relatively small state of Maryland. From the historic city of Annapolis where the naval academy is, the heart and soul of Maryland Chesapeake Bay, to Baltimore city with its lively nightlife.

If you are considering moving to Maryland or you already live there, make sure to continue reading to find out how safe Maryland is compared to other states, and learn about its safest cities based on the most recent FBI crime report.

One of the smallest states in size, but with a dense population of 6.016 million residents, Maryland enjoys a relatively low crime rate and ranks as the 23rd state in terms of safety.

When it comes to safe and dangerous cities, Hampstead is the safest city in the state with a 770 crime rate per 100,000 people. As for the capital, Annapolis is the 19th safest city, while Baltimore, home to 618,385 residents, is the 4th most dangerous city to live in in Maryland.

Moreover, Ocean City is the most dangerous city in Maryland, with a 16295 crime rate per 100,000 people. Cumberland, another large city in the state is the 3rd most dangerous city.

Find out if your city is one of the safest in the state, then review our resources for crime prevention tips and home security information.


More Information About Maryland

Capital: Annapolis

Number of Counties: 23

Overall Population: 6.016 million inhabitants

Land Area: 12,407 square miles

Education Statistics: 38.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, (percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015)

Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

Crime Stats In Maryland

Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 472.0

Property Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 2,284.5

Maryland’s Safety Rank: #23


Disclaimer:

In creating this ranking, we excluded all cities with population less than 5,000 residents as well as any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.

Table 1: Top 10 Safest Cities In Maryland

Rank City Population Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants
1 Hampstead
Previous rank: 5
6365 769.0
2 Ocean Pines
Previous rank: 1
12207 1024.0
3 Taneytown
Previous rank: 4
6749 1097.0
4 District Heights
Previous rank: 2
6204 1129.0
5 Thurmont
Previous rank: 7
6507 1137.0
6 Glenarden
Previous rank: 3
6390 1190.0
7 Bowie
Previous rank: 6
58631 1383.0
8 Brunswick
Previous rank: 12
6162 1444.0
9 Frostburg
Previous rank: 8
8601 2000.0
10 New Carrollton
Previous rank: 9
12914 2037.0

Table 2: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Maryland

Rank City Population Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants
1 Ocean City
Previous rank: Not Ranked
7045 16295.0
2 Elkton
Previous rank: 1
15837 7887.0
3 Cumberland
Previous rank: 4
19995 6977.0
4 Baltimore
Previous rank: 5
618385 6558.0
5 Hyattsville
Previous rank: 7
18666 6081.0
6 Cambridge
Previous rank: 2
12524 6068.0
7 Salisbury
Previous rank: 6
33417 5961.0
8 Fruitland
Previous rank: 3
5287 5939.0
9 Laurel
Previous rank: 12
26424 4239.0
10 Bladensburg
Previous rank: 8
9735 4057.0

Table 3: All Cities, Ranked By Population

City Population Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants
Safety Rank
Baltimore 618385 6558.0 32
Frederick 70316 2495.0 13
Bowie 58631 1383.0 7
Hagerstown 40567 3680.0 24
Annapolis 39703 2993.0 19
Salisbury 33417 5961.0 29
Laurel 26424 4239.0 27
Greenbelt 24511 3150.0 21
Cumberland 19995 6977.0 33
Westminster 18683 3960.0 25
Hyattsville 18666 6081.0 31
Takoma Park 17905 2519.0 14
Easton 16689 3020.0 20
Elkton 15837 7887.0 34
Aberdeen 15704 2101.0 11
Havre de Grace 13604 2536.0 16
New Carrollton 12914 2037.0 10
Cambridge 12524 6068.0 30
Ocean Pines 12207 1024.0 2
Bel Air 10200 2716.0 17
Bladensburg 9735 4057.0 26
La Plata 9201 3293.0 22
Frostburg 8601 2000.0 9
Mount Rainier 8552 3309.0 23
Riverdale 7373 2740.0 18
Ocean City 7045 16295.0 35
Taneytown 6749 1097.0 3
Cheverly 6546 2306.0 12
Thurmont 6507 1137.0 5
Glenarden 6390 1190.0 6
Hampstead 6365 769.0 1
District Heights 6204 1129.0 4
Brunswick 6162 1444.0 8
Fruitland 5287 5939.0 28
Chestertown 5067 2527.0 15

Top Security Companies in Your Area

Protect Your Home
Call now for a free quote
888-389-2987
Adt logoa

Six-Month Money Back Guarantee on all Protect Your Home Packages! 888-389-2987


ADT Authorized Premier Provider. Call now for a free quote 888-389-2987. Protect Your Home provides true nationwide monitoring with 335 call centers all around the country.

Protect America
Logo protectamerica
Vivint
Vivint logoa
Frontpoint
Frontpoint logoa
Link Interactive
Link interactive logoa

Latest Articles