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Living in
La Plata.
About
Life in La Plata
La Plata is a community of 10,470 people in Maryland. The median household income is $121,707, median rent runs about $1,559 per month, and median home values are around $428,400. Unemployment is low at 4.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
La Plata at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Foreign-Born
7.1%
Broadband Internet
93.8%
of households
Population Growth
+19.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.1% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in La Plata: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In La Plata, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (16.7%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
17.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
45.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
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 9% below MD average
Rent, home values, and income in La Plata
In La Plata, rent runs 9% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
30.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,852
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $475,505 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in La Plata and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Charles County, which includes La Plata, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
La Plata: Charles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Charles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What La Plata 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
Commute39.6 min avg
How La Plata residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In La Plata, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in La Plata runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
153.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,333.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
La Plata Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
44.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Charles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Charles County, which includes La Plata, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.7M |
| 2022 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $59,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $86,000 |
| 2020 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $206,500 |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2018 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,000 |
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
Charles County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Charles County, which includes La Plata, is typically good.
Median AQI
38
Charles County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
La Plata has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.9"
Annual Snowfall
15.1"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
98
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 25°F | 3.29" |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 56°F | 33°F | 4.24" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 3.31" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 4.57" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 4.84" |
| Sep | 77°F | 58°F | 4.87" |
| Oct | 66°F | 46°F | 4.18" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.34" |
| Dec | 48°F | 29°F | 3.99" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in La Plata
La Plata has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Healthcare Fort Washington Medical Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Fort Washington
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Fort Belvoir
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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in La Plata
La Plata's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Thomas Stone National Historic Site, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for La Plata
La Plata has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Stone National Historic Site (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Stone National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayPiscataway Park
Park
12 mi awayFort Washington Park
Park
13 mi awayHarmony Hall
National Park Site
15 mi awayFort Foote Park
Park
16 mi awayOxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm
National Park Site
19 mi awayFrederick Douglass National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayNational Capital Parks-East
National Park Site
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in La Plata
Charles County Detention Center Library
6905 Crain Hwy, La Plata
La Plata Branch
2 Garrett Avenue, La Plata
Cities Near La Plata
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to La Plata?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
La Plata FAQ
Is La Plata, Maryland affordable?⌄
La Plata's median rent is $1,559/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $121,208/year. Median home value is $428,400.
Is La Plata, Maryland safe?⌄
La Plata's violent crime rate was 154 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 1333 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in La Plata, Maryland?⌄
Charles County, which includes La Plata, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in La Plata, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in La Plata is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,559/month and median household income is $121,208/year. The median home value is $428,400. About 31% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in La Plata, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in La Plata is 40 minutes, which is significantly 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