Why do young people decide to move to Maryland?
Get an Online Quote
"*" indicates required fields
Even though the state of Maryland doesn’t stand out from the crowd in any particular category regarding the quality of life, it is still a very popular moving destination for young people and families. But why is that? The most important categories where Maryland ranks well are safety, employment rate, average income, and education. However, there are also other things that make young people decide to move to Maryland. And in the following article, the finest moving and storage Maryland will tell you all about it and help you discover the best places along the way.
So why do young people decide to move to Maryland?
As we already mentioned, Maryland doesn’t rank particularly high in many categories that are important for the quality of life. However, it does rank well in a few categories that are important for young people. So, here are the things that are good in Maryland that you and your family might find important.
- Safety
- Employment rate
- Average income
- Education
Safety in Maryland
Safety is one of the biggest issues in the country right now. Also, that is one of the most important factors that young people, especially those that plan a family, pay special attention to. And when it comes to safety, Maryland is currently the 10th-best state in the country. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that you do not have to worry about anything. To give you a clear perspective on what you can expect after moving to Maryland, here are some of the most important statistics:
- 64% of Marylanders are concerned on a daily basis that crime may happen to them – 1% more than in 2021
- 48% are concerned about violent crimes
- 52% are concerned about property crimes
- 56% are concerned about package thefts
- 44% are concerned about gun violence
- 12% of Marylanders experienced a violent crime in the previous year
- 18% experienced property crimes
- 18% experienced package theft
- 8% experienced gun violence
These numbers do look concerning. However, in most categories, they are below the national average. And the best thing is that we see a decline in almost every category we listed above.
Employment rates are one of the reasons why young people decide to move to Maryland
Having a good job is one of the most important things for young people. And when it comes to employment rates Maryland is one of the best in the country. The current unemployment rate in Maryland is 4,3% which is a significant improvement compared to, for example, 2020 when the unemployment rate was 9,5%. Besides the government sector, which is the biggest employer in the state, the main industries in Maryland are finance, insurance, real estate, transportation, and professional services. The biggest companies in these sectors in Maryland are:
- Brown Advisory – Finance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield – Insurance
- Walker & Dunlop – Real estate
- CEVA Logistics – Transportation
- DLA Piper – Professional services
The average income in Maryland is higher than the national average
Good employment opportunities are one of the main reasons why young people decide to move to Maryland. However, the expected income is also a pretty important factor. And when it comes to average income, Maryland is the 5th best state in the country. The average income in Maryland is $60,067, while the average household income is $114,236. For example, the average income in 2022 in America was $54,132 while the median household income was $78,813 – significantly lower than in Maryland.
Maryland has some of the best public schools in the country
If you are planning to relocate to Maryland with kids, you are surely interested in education opportunities. And that is another category where Maryland ranks pretty high. On the list of the states with the best public schools, Maryland is ranked at number 10 with the fourth-highest education attainment in the country. In Maryland, more than 39% of people have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Schools in this state have a 15:1 pupil-to-teacher ratio. And the average ACT score of 22.3 and SAT score of 1058. The best public schools in Maryland are:
- Poolesville High School – Poolesville
- Walt Whitman High School – Bethesda
- Marriotts Ridge High School – Marriottsville
- Winston Churchill High School – Potomac
- River Hill High School – Clarksville
- Richard Montgomery High School – Rockville
- Thomas S. Wootton High School – Rockville
- Walter Johnson High School – Bethesda
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School – Bethesda
- Centennial High School – Ellicott City
Living costs in Maryland
Now you know why so many young people decide to move to Maryland these days. However, before you start searching for movers, you should also learn a little bit about the living costs in Maryland. The cost of living in Maryland is slightly above the national average. For a single person with rent, the average cost of living is $2,155 (the national average is $2,112). On the other hand, for a family of four the average cost of living here is $4,833 (the national average is $4,790). Still, to get a better understanding regarding the cost of living in Maryland, we need to break these numbers down and see how it all looks like when we look at housing costs, food costs, transportation costs, and childcare costs in particular.
Housing costs
Between 2021 and 2022, home prices in Maryland increased by 9.8%. In July 2022, the average home value in this state was $406,436 – right around the national average. On the other hand, rent prices are 10% lower than the national average. In 2022, the average rent price in Maryland sat at $1,876. One category where Maryland is among the worst in the country is utility costs. The average utility bill in Maryland is $389.73 – exactly $99 more than the national average. Besides rent and utilities, you also need to factor in an internet plan, which, for 50Mbps unlimited data, typically costs around $68.9 per month. Naturally, these numbers do not mean much since prices significantly vary depending on the city.
Food costs
Food costs are another thing that young people need to pay attention to before moving to a new state. And the food costs in Maryland are a little bit above the national average. The average food costs for one person in Maryland are $555 (the national average is $543). For a family of four, you will need around $1,441 for food per month (the national average is $1,411). For example, a basic meal in a mid-range restaurant in Maryland usually costs around $15. A dinner for two in a better restaurant averagely costs around $62.4. A combo meal in a fast food restaurant usually costs $8.58. While beer in a pub costs around $5.
Transportation costs
Transportation is another thing that costs more in Maryland than in the rest of the country. One person here spends around $84 on transportation per month while a family of four around $223. A one-way ticket for a bus costs around $2.37, while a monthly fare will cost you $66.9 on average, depending on the city. A 5-mile taxi ride in Maryland costs $17.2. And if you are using your own car to commute, you should know that Maryland is among the more expensive states when it comes to gas prices with an average price for regular gasoline of $3.294.
Childcare costs
If you are moving to Maryland with kids, or you simply plan to have them in recent future, you also need to think about childcare costs. In Maryland, a daycare or preschool averagely costs around $1068 per month. If you have older kids that you want to send to an international primary school, it will cost you roughly $19,663 per year.
The best places for young people in Maryland
As you can see, living costs in Maryland are above the national average. However, it is not something that is unbearable, especially when we consider the higher average income that this state has. Naturally, living costs vary depending on the city. So, in order to ensure you get what you want, you need to pick a perfect place for you and your family. To help you with your task, one of the most highly-rated moving companies Gaithersburg MD has to offer prepared a list of the best places for young people in Maryland:
- Bethesda
- Rockville
- Gaithersburg
- Potomac
- Silver Spring
Living in Bethesda, MD
Bethesda is a town in Maryland, located in Montgomery County. It has a population of 65,092 and it is one of the best places to live in Maryland. The median home value here is $927,600 while the average rent is $2,075. The average cost of living for one person with rent is $2,800, while a family of four roughly needs around $5,001 per month – way above the national average. Still, in order to get a good understanding of the quality of life here, you cannot focus only on the living costs. Before you start searching for movers in Bethesda MD, you also need to think about job opportunities and average income. Only then, you will know how whether living here is expensive or not.
Job opportunities and average income in Bethesda, MD
The average household income in Bethesda is $172,873. That is $94,060 higher income than the national average. When you consider this fact, it is clear that living in Bethesda is actually more than affordable. The biggest companies here are:
- Marriott International
- Lockheed Martin
- HOST International
- Coventry Health Care
- HMSHost
Living in Rockville, MD
Rockville is another place in Maryland that is particularly popular among young people. It is located in Montgomery County and has a population of 68,155. The median home value in Rockville is $540,100 with an average rent of $1,914. At first glance, this looks much more affordable than Bethesda. However, before you start browsing through the moving services Rockville MD has to offer, don’t forget to check job opportunities as well as average income.
Job opportunities and average income in Rockville, MD
The average household income in Rockville is $111,797. That is more than double the national average. However, it is not close to the numbers we see in Bethesda, for example. So make sure that you do your calculations well before you decide where to move. The biggest employers here are:
- CEVA Logistics
- MAR MD
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Micro Focus (US), Inc.
- S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Living in Gaithersburg, MD
When young people decide to move to Maryland, they often choose Gaithersburg. It is a town in Montgomery County with a population of 67,878. The median home value here is $413,500 with an average rent of $1,754. If this looks appealing, before you start searching for reliable residential movers Gaithersburg MD has to offer, you also need to check average income and job opportunities.
Job opportunities and average income in Gaithersburg, MD
An average income in Gaithersburg is $91,845 – much lower than in Bethesda and Rockville. However, Gaithersburg has a pretty healthy business climate, which is why many young people that operate businesses, look for reliable office movers Gaithersburg MD has to offer and relocate their companies here as well. If you do not have your own business and you simply want to find a good job in a local company, here are the biggest employers in Gaithersburg
- Adventist HealthCare
- MedImmune
- Med Immune Inc
- SodexoMAGIC
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
Living in Potomac, MD
Another place that you should consider in Maryland is Potomac. It is a suburb of Washington D.C. considered one of the best places to raise a family in Maryland. It is located in Montgomery County and has a population of 46,256. The median home value here is $905,800 with an average rent of $2,024. Pretty expensive! However, don’t give up on your search for reliable local movers Potomac MD residents recommend.
Job opportunities and average income in Potomac, MD
Housing costs in Potomac are pretty high. However, similarly to Bethesda, this place has a pretty high average household income with plenty of job opportunities. The average household income in Potomac is $189,729. And the biggest employers are:
- Total Wine & More
- Farmers Restaurant Group
- Shulman Rogers
- New Degree Press
- Holistic Industries
Living in Silver Spring, MD
The last place that we will recommend in this article is Silver Spring. It is a place located in Montgomery County with a population of 81,069. The median home value here is $526,300 with an average rent of $1,682. Considerably more affordable than other places on our list. However, before you start searching for some long distance movers Silver Spring MD has to offer, you need to think about average income. And that is where this place fails compared to Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Potomac. Nevertheless, it still has a significantly higher average income than most other places in the country.
Job opportunities and average income in Silver Spring, MD
The median household income in Silver Spring is $88,274 – 9,461 higher than the national average. When it comes to employment opportunities, the biggest corporations in Silver Spring are:
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Discovery
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- National Weather Service
- American Nurses Association
There are other reasons why young people decide to move to Maryland
As you can see, the main reasons why young people decide to move to Maryland are safety, job opportunities, average income, and education. Besides that, people also enjoy beautiful nature and a thriving art scene. And if you are a sports fan, you will definitely enjoy living in the Free State.
References:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/safest-states
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/employment-rate-by-state
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/average-income-by-state
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/best-states-for-education
https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/md
https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/md/
https://www.zippia.com/company/best-biggest-companies-maryland/