What it's like to live in Frederick
Frederick is a smaller city in Maryland with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Frederick deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
How Frederick compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Frederick
Based on Frederick's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,528
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,560 a year
- 50% of Frederick renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,150
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 25% above US
$1,764/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,764 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $401,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $401,500 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 18% above US
390 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1572/100k · Frederick Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 15% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°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 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 20% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 8 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 Monocacy National Battlefield (5 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Frederick's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,764/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Frederick
All Maryland guides →Moving to Ballenger Creek →
4 mi away · pop. 26,390
Rent $1,987/mo · Income $108,944
Compare with Frederick →Moving to Linganore →
6 mi away · pop. 14,444
Rent $2,523/mo · Income $175,833
Compare with Frederick →Not sure Frederick is the one?
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