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North East, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, North East, Maryland had a total population of 4,134, the 222nd largest town in Maryland, with a median household income of $91,603, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

North East Quick Facts

Population 4,134
Median Household Income $91,603
Median Home Value $292,300
Poverty Rate 7.5%
Unemployment Rate 5.8%
Median Age 40.5 years
Homeownership Rate 62.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.2x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 39.9%
High School Graduation Rate 96.4%
Diversity Index 40/100
Population 4,134 222nd of 527
Median Income $91,603 average
Poverty Rate 7.5% 40% lower than national
Median Home Value $292,300 below average

How North East Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population4,0954,134+1.0%
Median household income$87,510$91,603+4.7%
Median home value$243,500$292,300+20.0%

How North East Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.0%
$25K-$50K 21.7%
$50K-$100K 22.1%
$100K+ 46.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.6%
$10K-$15K
2.5%
$15K-$20K
1.2%
$20K-$25K
2.6%
$25K-$30K
0.0%
$30K-$35K
7.9%
$35K-$40K
11.5%
$40K-$45K
2.4%
$45K-$50K
0.0%
$50K-$60K
1.9%
$60K-$75K
5.7%
$75K-$100K
14.5%
$100K-$125K
16.5%
$125K-$150K
5.7%
$150K-$200K
13.3%
$200K+
10.8%

Employment

5.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
73.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.3%
Renter 37.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,329/mo 17.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

40out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 68 | National average: 61

Education

North East Rankings in Maryland

#222 Population of 527
#275 Median Income of 463
#218 Education of 527
#331 Home Value of 471

Other Cities in Cecil County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Elkton 15,910 $58,640 20.1% $293,400
Perryville 4,447 $77,733 11.4% $295,200
Rising Sun 2,764 $85,563 13.1% $309,100
Charlestown 1,999 $122,125 8.5% $378,400
Cecilton 820 $87,813 15.2% $241,800
Chesapeake City 810 $84,583 12.7% $344,100
Port Deposit 491 $58,750 20.6% $278,600

Cities Similar to North East

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Indian Head4,055$89,063$303,70015.7%9.7%
Capitol Heights4,020$97,155$331,90020.5%8.9%
Delmar4,261$85,174$226,50025.8%10.0%
La Vale4,196$77,500$170,80036.9%4.6%
Boonsboro3,809$95,956$352,40030.4%3.3%

Population Overview

North East is a small community located in Maryland, within Cecil County. The total population is 4,134. It ranks as the 222nd most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in North East is 40.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in North East is $91,603. This is 12% lower than the state median of $103,678. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $292,300. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $419,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 62.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in North East is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (75.5% vs 46.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.6%) is well below the state average of 12.5%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 6.5%.

Education

39.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 96.4%. Notably, 18.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for North East, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of North East, Maryland?

North East, Maryland has a population of 4,134 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in North East, MD?

The median household income in North East is $91,603, which is 13% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in North East, MD?

The poverty rate in North East is 7.5%. This means approximately 308 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of North East, Maryland?

North East's population is 75.5% White, 14.8% Black, 5.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in North East, MD?

The median home value in North East is $292,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.

How educated is North East, Maryland?

39.9% of adults (25+) in North East hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 18.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.