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Living in
Towson.
Towson is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Towson
If you're considering Towson, know that you're looking at a solidly upper-middle-class Baltimore suburb with real walkability challenges and a car-dependent layout, though a free Towson Loop bus service and bike infrastructure have improved lately. The job market is stable with 4.0% unemployment, and the area draws professionals working downtown via a reasonable 25-minute commute, plus you've got bus service and light rail access at the edges. Summers are genuinely hot and humid, winters are mild enough that you won't spend months in snow, and while there's decent access to parks and historic sites within an easy drive, Towson itself isn't nature-focused.
Towson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Foreign-Born
10.6%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.6% foreign-born, most often from Nepal
Who lives in Towson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Towson, the largest foreign-born group is from Nepal (11.7%), and 3.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.1%
of households
Married Couples
41.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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 about average for MD
Rent, home values, and income in Towson
In Towson, home values are 12% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,796
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $471,018 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Towson
Unemployment in Baltimore County, which includes Towson, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Towson: Baltimore County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Baltimore County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Towson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.1 min avg
How Towson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Towson, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 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 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Baltimore County Police Department, which covers Towson, runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
400.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,400.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Baltimore County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 43 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Baltimore County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Baltimore County, which includes Towson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 43 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2024 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15.1M |
| 2023 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.4M |
| 2022 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $326,000 |
| 2021 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 58 | Dense Fog | $333,500 |
| 2019 | 53 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500,000 |
| 2018 | 64 | Flood | $8.6M |
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
Baltimore County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Baltimore County, which includes Towson, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Baltimore County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Towson has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
19.3"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
92
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 30°F | 3.07" |
| Feb | 47°F | 32°F | 2.75" |
| Mar | 55°F | 39°F | 3.93" |
| Apr | 67°F | 48°F | 3.55" |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 3.39" |
| Jun | 85°F | 68°F | 3.36" |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 4.71" |
| Aug | 87°F | 71°F | 4.35" |
| Sep | 80°F | 65°F | 4.49" |
| Oct | 69°F | 53°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 58°F | 43°F | 2.98" |
| Dec | 48°F | 35°F | 3.66" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Towson
Towson has 3 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
University of MD St Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Baltimore
Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital
Childrens · 3.9 mi away · Baltimore
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Baltimore
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Towson
Towson's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 69.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Towson
Public · 4-year · 16,136 students · in-state tuition $12,186 · 72% graduate · median earnings $70,158 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 964 students · in-state tuition $55,300 · 62% graduate · median earnings $59,069 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Community College of Baltimore County
7.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 13,872 students · in-state tuition $4,536 · 19% graduate · median earnings $46,761 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
11.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,701 students · in-state tuition $13,679 · 71% graduate · median earnings $74,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $8,346 · 53% graduate · median earnings $56,585 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,693 students · in-state tuition $67,170 · 94% graduate · median earnings $104,590 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,869 students · in-state tuition $59,150 · 79% graduate · median earnings $90,179 (10 yrs after entry)
Baltimore City Community College
6.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,700 students · in-state tuition $3,314 · 33% graduate · median earnings $39,370 (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: Hampton National Historic Site, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Towson
Towson has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hampton National Historic Site (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
1 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
8 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
10 mi awayBaltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
29 mi awayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
30 mi awayChesapeake Bay
National Park Site
30 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
33 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
38 mi awayPublic Libraries in Towson
Towson Branch
320 York Rd., Towson
Cities Near Towson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Towson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Towson FAQ
Is Towson, Maryland affordable?⌄
Towson's median rent is $1,764/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $101,320/year. Median home value is $469,000.
Is Towson, Maryland safe?⌄
Towson is policed by the Baltimore County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 401 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2400 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Towson, Maryland?⌄
Baltimore County, which includes Towson, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Towson, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Towson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,764/month and median household income is $101,320/year. The median home value is $469,000. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Towson, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Towson is 25 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