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.
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%
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 |
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