Worcester County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Name: Worcester County, Maryland Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Worcester County, Maryland has a population of 53,700, the 17th most populous county in Maryland. The median household income is $81,745 and the median home value is $374,700. The poverty rate is 9.9%.

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

Worcester County Quick Facts

Population 53,700

Median Household Income $81,745

Median Home Value $374,700

Poverty Rate 9.9%

Unemployment Rate 6.7%

Median Age 50.7 years

Homeownership Rate 78.0%

Affordability Ratio 4.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 35.3%

High School Graduation 94.0%

Cities/Places 11

Population 53,700 17th of 24

Median Income $81,745 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.9%

Unemployment 6.7%

How Worcester County Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	53,279	53,700	+0.8%
Median household income	$81,455	$81,745	+0.4%
Median home value	$348,100	$374,700	+7.6%

Median Household Income

Worcester

$81,745

$103,678

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Worcester

$374,700

$419,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.3%

$25K-$50K 14.8%

$50K-$100K 30.2%

$100K+ 41.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.8%

$10K-$15K

2.9%

$15K-$20K

2.4%

$20K-$25K

3.3%

$25K-$30K

2.7%

$30K-$35K

3.5%

$35K-$40K

2.7%

$40K-$45K

3.2%

$45K-$50K

2.8%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

9.4%

$75K-$100K

12.8%

$100K-$125K

12.4%

$125K-$150K

7.0%

$150K-$200K

8.8%

$200K+

13.4%

Employment

6.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

58.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.0%

Renter 22.0%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,159/mo 17.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.1%

18-34

16.5%

35-54

21.6%

55-74

32.3%

75+

12.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 68 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Worcester County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ocean Pines	12,351	$91,824	5.5%	$380,100
Ocean City	6,903	$77,750	10.9%	$429,000
Berlin	5,232	$81,438	18.9%	$423,500
West Ocean City	5,198	$97,165	6.4%	$423,700
Pocomoke City	4,405	$53,203	15.3%	$199,000
Snow Hill	2,659	$48,382	18.4%	$222,900
Bishopville	516	N/A	0.0%	$623,000
Newark	244	$92,361	0.0%	$337,500
Whaleyville	198	$115,288	3.0%	$187,800
Stockton	110	$84,306	0.0%	N/A
Girdletree	77	N/A	0.0%	$187,500

Explore Maryland Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Worcester County is located in Maryland with a total population of 53,700. It is the 17th most populous county out of 24 in Maryland. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Worcester County is 50.7 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 12.5% 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 Worcester County is $81,745. This is 21% lower than the state median of $103,678. It is also 1% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.9%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $374,700. Housing costs are 11% lower than the state median of $419,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 78.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Worcester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.8% vs 46.6%). The Black or African American population (12.0%) is well below the state average of 28.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 12.5%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 6.5%.

Education

35.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 94.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Worcester County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Maryland and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Worcester County, Maryland?

Worcester County has a population of 53,700, making it the 17th most populous county in Maryland.

What is the median income in Worcester County?

The median household income in Worcester County is $81,745 with a poverty rate of 9.9%.

How many cities are in Worcester County, Maryland?

Worcester County contains 11 Census-designated places.