What it's like to live in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a small city in Maryland with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Aberdeen deals with crime rates above the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Aberdeen compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Aberdeen
Based on Aberdeen's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,726
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,520 a year
- 49% of Aberdeen renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,140
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,363/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,363 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $261,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $261,400 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Harford County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Harford County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 23% above US
404 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1580/100k · Aberdeen Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 29% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hampton National Historic Site (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Aberdeen's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,363/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Aberdeen
All Maryland guides →Moving to Havre de Grace →
4 mi away · pop. 14,994
Rent $1,416/mo · Income $105,817
Compare with Aberdeen →Moving to Bel Air South →
8 mi away · pop. 58,137
Rent $1,757/mo · Income $123,653
Compare with Aberdeen →Not sure Aberdeen is the one?
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