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Living in
Ballenger Creek.
Ballenger Creek is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Ballenger Creek
Living in Ballenger Creek means you're getting suburban convenience with Frederick's amenities just down the road, but understand that this is suburban sprawl—you'll need a car for most errands and activities. The job market is solid with 3.5% unemployment and a median household income of $108,385, plus nearly half the population holds a college degree, reflecting a fairly educated workforce. The commute to jobs in Frederick, Washington DC, or Baltimore averages 33.4 minutes, which is manageable but worth factoring into your daily life.
Ballenger Creek at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
20.5%
Broadband Internet
91.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics20.5% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Ballenger Creek: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ballenger Creek, the largest foreign-born group is from India (11.7%), and 9.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
38.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Ballenger Creek
In Ballenger Creek, rent runs 17% above the MD average, and home values are 8% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,617
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MD average
Unemployment in Ballenger Creek and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Frederick County, which includes Ballenger Creek, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Ballenger Creek: Frederick County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Frederick County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Ballenger Creek Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute32.5 min avg
How Ballenger Creek residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ballenger Creek, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Hagerstown Regional Richard A Henson Field (HGR)
Regional airport · few flights45k passengers boarded in 2025
- 30 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 68% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, which covers Ballenger Creek, runs 68% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
106.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
632.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Frederick County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
74.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Frederick County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Frederick County, which includes Ballenger Creek, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $635,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $94,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $949,000 |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $214,000 |
| 2021 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $712,000 |
| 2020 | 43 | Dense Fog | $416,000 |
| 2019 | 46 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2018 | 49 | Flood | $44.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Frederick County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Frederick County, which includes Ballenger Creek, is typically good.
Median AQI
41
Frederick County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ballenger Creek has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.5"
Annual Snowfall
31.4"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
84
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 27°F | 2.58" |
| Feb | 48°F | 29°F | 2.95" |
| Mar | 55°F | 36°F | 3.71" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 3.55" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 3.99" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.26" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 3.90" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 2.89" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 5.80" |
| Oct | 69°F | 47°F | 3.26" |
| Nov | 56°F | 38°F | 2.66" |
| Dec | 47°F | 31°F | 3.97" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ballenger Creek
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ballenger Creek's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Frederick Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Frederick
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ballenger Creek
Ballenger Creek's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 46.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ballenger Creek (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,203 students · in-state tuition $3,958 · 46% graduate · median earnings $49,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,194 students · in-state tuition $49,380 · 62% graduate · median earnings $60,061 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Monocacy National Battlefield, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ballenger Creek
Ballenger Creek has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Monocacy National Battlefield (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
2 mi awayPotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
16 mi awayAntietam National Battlefield
National Battlefield
17 mi awayHarpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
19 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
28 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayCities Near Ballenger Creek
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ballenger Creek?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ballenger Creek FAQ
Is Ballenger Creek, Maryland affordable?⌄
Ballenger Creek's median rent is $1,987/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $108,944/year. Median home value is $387,300.
Is Ballenger Creek, Maryland safe?⌄
Ballenger Creek is policed by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 106 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 633 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ballenger Creek, Maryland?⌄
Frederick County, which includes Ballenger Creek, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ballenger Creek, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Ballenger Creek is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,987/month and median household income is $108,944/year. The median home value is $387,300. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ballenger Creek, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Ballenger Creek is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from