11 of the Most Beautiful Places to Live In Maryland That Are Still Affordable

Maryland is a beautiful northeastern U.S. state. It has a variety of mountain, river, lake, ocean, and forest towns throughout the state. You can find beauty here if you are interested in coastal towns, mountain towns, or river cities. However, many of these places are incredibly expensive to live in. What are some beautiful places to live in in Maryland that are still affordable? Let’s look at some of the more popular spots in Maryland with lower median home values.

Boonsboro

Boonsboro, MD, is located in Washington County at the foot of South Mountain. It is near the Appalachian Trail and several famous Civil War Heritage Sites, including the South Mountain and Antietam National battlefields. The fabulous Annapolis Rock Vista overlooks Boonsboro from the mountain. The town itself has a restored trolley station and a beautiful park. Boonsboro’s population is 3,799 people, and the town’s area is 3.06 sq mi (7.92 km²). The median home price for the county is $262,400.

Cambridge

Cambridge, MD, is an authentic Maryland coastal town on the Choptank River, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. It is surrounded by numerous nature reserves, wildlife refuges, and sanctuaries—a birder’s paradise! The town has a historic shopping district, and the well-known Choptank River Lighthouse sits across Long Wharf Park at the entrance to the Cambridge River. The city has an area of 12.95 sq mi (33.53 km²), with a population of 13,096. The median housing price in Cambridge is $223,200.

Chesapeake City

Chesapeake City, MD, sits on a picturesque harbor where Back Creek meets the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. This working commercial canal feeds into Elk River, a part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Viewers can sometimes catch sight of incoming ocean traffic. The town still has some well-preserved 19th-century architecture near the Canal Wildlife Management Area. Median housing prices in Cecil County, where the town is located, is about $292,500. The population of 736 resides in an area measuring 0.72 sq mi (1.88 km²).

Chestertown

Where the Chester River feeds into the Chesapeake Bay, you will find Chestertown, MD. The surrounding Kent County is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, part of the beautiful Delmarva Peninsula. Numerous bays, rivers, streams, and other waterways crisscross the peninsula. It is also home to multiple wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, forests, marshes, and protected areas. The picturesque town has a homely small-town feel and a population of 5,532. The town’s total area is 3.29 sq mi (8.51 km²), and the median housing price is $302,200.

Cumberland

Cumberland, MD, has a lot going on geographically. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, Cumberland sits where the North Branch Potomac River and Wills Creek meet. It has two mountains (Wills and Haystack Mountains) within its city limits. It’s close to the Chesapeake, Ohio Canal National Park, and the Great Allegheny Passage trail and path. West Virginia is on the other side of the Potomac River. It is also situated within the Allegany County’s network of bike trails. The 10.12 sq mi (26.22 km²) municipality has a population of 19,076 people and a median housing price of $119,500.

Frostburg

Situated in the Allegheny Mountains in Western Maryland, Frostburg is characterized by snowy winters and comfortable summers. Fall foliage is gorgeous here and a sight to behold from a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The town is located between Big Savage Mountain and Cumberland. The homey Main Street hosts many festivities, including the Arts Walk and a Soap Box Derby. It is a small town with a population of 7,027 and an area of 3.35 sq mi (8.67 km²). Median housing prices in Frostburg are only $157,000.

Hagerstown

Hagerstown, MD, sits in the Cumberland Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, north of the Potomac River. Locally, the valley is known as the Hagerstown Valley. It sits very close to the Pennsylvania border on the north and the West Virginia border to the south. The city has over a dozen beautiful parks and a vibrant City Center. The autumn foliage in the area is remarkable. The median price range for housing is an affordable $192,500, and the population of this 12.56 square mile town is 43,527.

Hancock

Considered Maryland’s Trail Town, Hancock, situated on the Potomac River, is a beautiful Appalachian town between West Virginia and Pennsylvania on a two-mile-wide strip of Maryland. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal passes through the town, and the nearby Western Maryland Rail Trail is ideal for mixed-use walking and biking. The town is located near the Woodmont Natural Resource Management Area, operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area on the Potomac. The fall foliage here is spectacular. The population is 1,557, and the area is 3.00 sq mi (7.78 km²). It is located in Washington County, where the median housing price is $262,400.

Oakland

Oakland, MD, sits near the borders of Pennsylvania and West Virginia on the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. It lies in a small valley at an elevation of 2,500 feet, surrounded by lakes, streams, forests, waterfalls, mountains, and farmland. Nearby are Deep Creek Lake, Garrett State Forest, and Mountain Lake Park. Autumn is heralded here by a riotous display of fall color. The town has a lovely Main Street and a thriving Arts and Entertainment District. It is a small town with an area of under 3 square miles and a population of 1,851 people. The median price for a home in the surrounding Garrett County is $220,100.

Rock Hall

Another Chesapeake Bay village, Rock Hall, MD, is a harbor town near the National Chesapeake Scenic Byway. It sits on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, surrounded by wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, parks, and reserves. Rock Hall has a strong artistic community and many unique events, such as Pirates and Wenches Weekend and its local 4th of July celebrations. The median housing price for the surrounding Kent County is $291,900. The population is 1,198 in an area of 1.55 sq mi (4.02 km²).

Vienna

Vienna, MD, may be the spot for you if you love birding or wildlife viewing. Located in Dorchester County on the Delmarva Peninsula, this Eastern Maryland ocean town is on the Nanticoke River, an outlet to the Chesapeake Bay. Vienna is in the center of the Nanticoke River watershed, protected by a sand bar. It borders the Nanticoke Unit of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Its 0.77 sq mi (1.98 km²) area has a small population of 270. The median home price in the area is $226,000.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Janece Flippo/Shutterstock.com