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Living in
Fort Meade.
About
Life in Fort Meade
Fort Meade is a community of 10,477 people in Maryland. The median household income is $102,886, median rent runs about $2,435 per month. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Fort Meade at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Fort Meade: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fort Meade, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (26.7%), and 6.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.3%
of residents
65 and Older
2.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
56.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
12.6%
of households
Married Couples
67.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.14
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 43% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Fort Meade
In Fort Meade, rent runs 43% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
0.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.2%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below MD average
Unemployment in Fort Meade
Unemployment in Anne Arundel County, which includes Fort Meade, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Fort Meade: Anne Arundel County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Anne Arundel County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fort Meade is about 2% of Anne Arundel County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fort Meade Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.2 min avg
How Fort Meade residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fort Meade, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M 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 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, which covers Fort Meade, runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
273.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,691.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Anne Arundel County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anne Arundel County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anne Arundel County, which includes Fort Meade, 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 | $468,000 |
| 2024 | 26 | Coastal Flood | $514,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $549,000 |
| 2021 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $276,000 |
| 2020 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2019 | 48 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 56 | Flood | $17,000 |
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
Anne Arundel County, county-wide
Fort Meade is about 2% of Anne Arundel County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anne Arundel County, which includes Fort Meade, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Anne Arundel County, county-wide
Fort Meade is about 2% of Anne Arundel County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fort Meade has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.0"
Annual Snowfall
19.3"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 3.08" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 2.90" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.01" |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 3.39" |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 3.85" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 4.48" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 4.09" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.44" |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 3.94" |
| Nov | 57°F | 37°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 48°F | 30°F | 3.71" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fort Meade
Uninsured
2.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fort Meade's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
University of MD Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Glen Burnie
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Ctr, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Lanham
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 mi away · Columbia
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.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fort Meade
Fort Meade's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fort Meade (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland Global Campus
14.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 49,664 students · in-state tuition $8,280 · 32% graduate · median earnings $68,110 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
10.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,701 students · in-state tuition $13,679 · 71% graduate · median earnings $74,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Anne Arundel Community College
12.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 8,997 students · in-state tuition $4,586 · 41% graduate · median earnings $51,114 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,649 students · in-state tuition $4,146 · 21% graduate · median earnings $53,227 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland Baltimore
14.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 958 students · 94% graduate · median earnings $96,035 (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: Baltimore-Washington Parkway, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fort Meade
Fort Meade has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Baltimore-Washington Parkway (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
8 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
12 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
14 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
15 mi awayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
17 mi awayChesapeake Bay
National Park Site
17 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
17 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
18 mi awayCities Near Fort Meade
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fort Meade?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fort Meade FAQ
Is Fort Meade, Maryland affordable?⌄
Fort Meade's median rent is $2,435/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $103,261/year.
Is Fort Meade, Maryland safe?⌄
Fort Meade is policed by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 274 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1691 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fort Meade, Maryland?⌄
Anne Arundel County, which includes Fort Meade, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fort Meade, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Fort Meade is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,435/month and median household income is $103,261/year. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fort Meade, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Fort Meade is 16 minutes, which is shorter 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