Secretary, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 635, Secretary'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

Secretary is a small community located in Maryland, within Dorchester County. The total population is 635. It ranks as the 368th most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Secretary is 34.0 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 39.4 years. With 34.8% of the population under 18, Secretary has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Secretary is $82,721. This is 20% lower than the state median of $103,678. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.5%. This is 42% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 36% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $172,000. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $419,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Secretary is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Secretary is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 21.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (72.4% vs 46.6%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 28.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (21.4% vs 12.5%).

Education

20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Secretary, 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.