Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Frederick, MD

    Is Frederick a good place to live?

    Watch Frederick

    Frederick ranks #16 of 57 Maryland cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (60/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 2.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $365,200
    +6.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,688
    per month
    Household income
    $95,150
    median
    Unemployment
    3.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Frederick

    The median home value in Frederick is $365,200 and median rent is $1,688 a month, against a median household income of $95,150. Homes cost about 3.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Frederick crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Maryland the 2025 rate was 365 violent and 1,853 property crimes per 100,000 people — #11 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Frederick, MD

    Frederick has about 80,617 residents, 3.7% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Frederick with

    Frederick vs BaltimoreFrederick vs ColumbiaFrederick vs GermantownFrederick vs WaldorfFrederick vs Silver SpringFrederick vs Ellicott CityFrederick vs Glen BurnieFrederick vs Gaithersburg

    More: Where to move in Maryland · Best counties in Maryland

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report