What it's like to live in Easton
Easton is a small city in Maryland with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, 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. Easton deals with crime rates above the national average, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Easton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Easton
Based on Easton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,394
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,880 a year
- 49% of Easton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$71,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,890
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,197/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,197 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $358,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $358,900 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Talbot County is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Talbot County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 48% above US
487 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 1657/100k · Easton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°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, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (22 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Easton's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,197/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Easton
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