Garrett County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Garrett County is located in Maryland with a total population of 28,713. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Garrett County is 48.1 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.3 years. 10.1% 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 Garrett County is $69,031. This is 32% lower than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $217,000. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 81.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Garrett County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.1% vs 47.4%). The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 29.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.4%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 89.8%.