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Living in
Salisbury.
About
Life in Salisbury
Salisbury offers an affordable mid-Atlantic living option with median home values around $227,300 and rents near $1,320 monthly—reasonable for the region. The job market here is genuinely strong, with a 5.2% unemployment rate and a track record of above-average employment growth; major employers include the medical center, university, and Perdue Farms, which dominates the regional economy. You'll experience hot, humid summers with about 30 days hitting 90°F or higher annually, plus mild winters with occasional snow, so if you dislike heat and humidity, this climate takes some adjustment.
Salisbury at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Foreign-Born
16.2%
Broadband Internet
87.9%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.2% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Salisbury: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salisbury, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (47.1%), and 10.1% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
24.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
27.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 23% below MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Salisbury
In Salisbury, rent runs 23% below the MD average, and home values are 46% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,683
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
27.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $263,312 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above MD average
Unemployment in Salisbury
Unemployment in Salisbury is 1.2 percentage points higher than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Salisbury Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.2 min avg
How Salisbury residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salisbury, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY)
Regional airport · few flights66k passengers boarded in 2025
- 80 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 171% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Salisbury runs 171% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
891.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,474.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Salisbury Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wicomico County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wicomico County, which includes Salisbury, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Coastal Flood | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 7 | Winter Weather | $66,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Winter Weather | $203,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Heavy Rain | $533,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Heavy Rain | $35,000 |
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
Wicomico County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sussex County, DE (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Salisbury) is typically good — 300 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
300
per year
Moderate Days
64
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Sussex County, DE (25 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salisbury has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.0"
Annual Snowfall
8.0"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
71
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 3.58" |
| Feb | 50°F | 30°F | 3.19" |
| Mar | 58°F | 37°F | 4.20" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 3.57" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 3.72" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.32" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.83" |
| Aug | 86°F | 68°F | 5.26" |
| Sep | 81°F | 62°F | 4.33" |
| Oct | 71°F | 50°F | 3.93" |
| Nov | 60°F | 40°F | 3.41" |
| Dec | 52°F | 33°F | 3.67" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salisbury
Salisbury has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education12.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salisbury
Salisbury's student/teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Assateague Island National Seashore, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salisbury
Salisbury has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Assateague Island National Seashore (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Assateague Island National Seashore
National Seashore
29 mi awayHarriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
64 mi awayChesapeake Bay
National Park Site
64 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
73 mi awayThomas Stone National Historic Site
National Historic Site
79 mi awayFort Dupont Park
National Park Site
81 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salisbury
Wicomico County Free Library - Main Library
122-126 South Division St., Salisbury
Centre Branch
2300 North Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury
Cities Near Salisbury
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Salisbury?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Salisbury FAQ
Is Salisbury, Maryland affordable?⌄
Salisbury's median rent is $1,318/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $58,576/year. Median home value is $227,300.
Is Salisbury, Maryland safe?⌄
Salisbury's violent crime rate was 891 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2475 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salisbury, Maryland?⌄
Salisbury has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salisbury, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Salisbury is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,318/month and median household income is $58,576/year. The median home value is $227,300. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salisbury, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Salisbury is 22 minutes, which is about 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