Places › Maryland › Frederick

Living in Frederick, MD

Small city in Maryland

Frederick is a small city in Maryland, home to about 81,000 people, with 1.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Frederick a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Easy flying: IAD is 34 mi away
  • Big job market: about 1.2 million people live within 31 mi
  • Dog-friendly: 9 dog parks within 9 mi

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer graduates: 42% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Higher taxes: about $1,897 state income tax per resident, 1.31% property tax

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Frederick ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
81,000
1.2 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
46°F / 87°F
Average daily highs · 31″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$419k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,840/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
94
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,897
State income tax per resident · 1.31% property tax
Safety
1.1× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
42%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
IAD
34 mi away

Living in Frederick: common questions

What is the cost of living in Frederick?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $419k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,840 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 94, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Frederick?

Maryland collects about $1,897 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.31% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Frederick safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.1× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Frederick?

Frederick has cold winters: winter days average around 46°F and summer days around 87°F, with roughly 31″ of snow a year.

Does Frederick get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.47 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Frederick?

The nearest major airport is IAD, about 34 mi away.

How Frederick scores

Each bar compares Frederick with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly walkable Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Average
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Good
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Frederick right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.