| Index | Fort Meade | Maryland | National |
| Cost of living | 145 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Health care | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 229 | 151 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Household Items | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 112 | 112 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Fort Meade can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Fort Meade cost of living index is 145, which is 45% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Fort Meade may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Fort Meade falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs significantly influence the Fort Meade cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 129.3%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Wondering if Fort Meade is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Fort Meade, for example, the median home price is 133% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 120.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Fort Meade boasting a median household income of $118,568, which is 45.8% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Fort Meade, the utilities index registers 6.6% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Fort Meade, the housing index comes in at 129.3% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Fort Meade shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $161,138 | $13,428 | $3,760 | $4,835 |
| Renters | $121,513 | $10,126 | $2,835 | $3,646 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Maryland | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Maryland | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Dundalk, MD | 65,241 | 106 | 5.9% |
| Lansdowne, MD | 8,964 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Baltimore, MD | 621,744 | 108 | 7.9% |
| Cottage City, MD | 1,193 | 105 | 5.5% |
| Woodlawn CDP (Prince George's County), MD | 8,071 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Fort Meade, MD | 11,661 | 145 | 44.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bellmawr, NJ | 11,664 | 107 | 6.7% |
| Minnehaha, WA | 11,665 | 126 | 25.8% |
| Fort Morgan, CO | 11,666 | 105 | 4.9% |
| Guthrie, OK | 11,666 | 90 | 10.0% |
| Estevan, SK | 11,667 | n/a | |
| Fort Meade, MD | 11,661 | 145 | 44.8% |
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