Frederick County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Frederick County is located in Maryland with a total population of 280,341. It is the 7th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Frederick County is 38.9 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Frederick County is $120,458. This is 19% higher than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 53% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $437,700. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 77.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Frederick County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.3%. The Black or African American population (9.9%) is well below the state average of 29.2%.

Education

44.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher 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 93.4%. Notably, 20.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.