Choptank, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 186, Choptank'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

Choptank is a small community located in Maryland, within Caroline County. The total population is 186. It ranks as the 451st most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Choptank is 43.2 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 17.7% 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 Choptank is $127,791. This is 23% higher than the state median of $103,678. It is also 58% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Choptank, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $286,000. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $419,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Choptank is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Choptank has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 9.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.9% vs 46.6%). The Black or African American population (9.1%) is well below the state average of 28.9%.

Education

6.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 85% 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 89.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Choptank, 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.