Charles County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Charles County is located in Maryland with a total population of 168,710. It is the 10th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charles County is 38.8 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charles County is $120,592. This is 19% higher than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 54% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.6%. This is 29% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $402,300. Housing costs are 1% higher than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 81.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Charles County is Black or African American, making up 48.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (48.5% vs 29.2%).

Education

31.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 42.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%.