Chance, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 230, Chance's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Chance is a small community located in Maryland, within Somerset County. The total population is 230. It ranks as the 438th most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chance is 58.5 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. Only 3.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chance is $66,711. This is 36% lower than the state median of $103,678. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 54% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Chance, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $259,100. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $419,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 48% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chance is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 20.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (79.1% vs 46.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (20.9% vs 12.5%).

Education

9.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 43.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chance, Maryland is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Maryland state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 527 Census-designated places in Maryland. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.