Explore Maryland:

Mid-Sized Cities

Small Town Charm. Big City Benefits.

From the mountains to the sea, discover Maryland’s mid-sized marvels that are too big to be small towns but offer the perfect amount of city living. Hover below for a snapshot of three leading mid-size cities or keep scrolling for more amazing communities to explore.

Silver Spring

#1

Best place to live for Families (Fortune)

Columbia

#1

Best City for Women (WalletHub)

Gaithersburg

#1

Most Culturally Diverse City (WalletHub)

Tour Maryland’s Mid-Size Cities

Looking for big city opportunities, without committing to big city life? These Maryland towns have something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for waterfront living, access to outdoor excursions, or nearby access bigger cities (Washington D.C. or Baltimore), tour Maryland to find the mid-size community that’s a perfect fit for your life.

Columbia

Everything you want, and right where you want it.

Halfway between big cities Baltimore and Washington, D.C, Columbia is America’s first planned city designed around 10, unique villages, each with all the essentials and easy to navigate, Columbia constantly finds itself on top ten lists of American cities. WalletHub named Columbia to its “Safest Cities in America,” “Happiest Cities in America,” and “Best Places to Raise a Family” lists, while Livability named Columbia one of the “Best Places to Live in the U.S.”

Frederick

Mountain charm meets city sophistication

Frederick has it all. Families will love the top-notch schools, welcoming communities, and easy access to the outdoors. Everyone will love the walkable streets and the amazing downtown Carroll Creek Park, great restaurants and cafés, and thriving creative scene featuring the Weinberg Center for the Arts. And did we mention a cost of living that will make your D.C. friends go green with envy? Frederick really has it all.

Annapolis

Chesapeake style meets urban elegance.

Condé Nast Traveler put Annapolis on its top 10 “Best Small Cities” and with one quick stroll along the brick sidewalks of downtown Annapolis, you’ll want to call it your city. Every street seems to lead you to the water, uniformed Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy dot the cityscape, and traditions like the annual Blue Angels Airshow to kick off Summer give this city a true community feel. With everything you need and want a quick walk away, Baltimore and D.C. a convenient trip up the freeway, and waterfront views from downtown cafes always plentiful, Annapolis is a dream come true.

Towson

Urban access in a mid-sized package.

Set just to the north of its big-brother Baltimore, Towson University and Goucher College give this urban enclave a college-town feel while providing great opportunities to further your education. Towson’s fantastic dining and shopping centered on the walkable town center mean you’ll never have to leave your new neighborhood. Towson’s great location means you can amp things up with a twenty-minute trip for an Orioles or Ravens game in the heart of Baltimore.

Silver Spring

Inside the Beltway and outside the norm.

Named the #1 most diverse city in America by Wallet Hub and supporting a thriving global community, Silver Spring is the little city that plays home to the whole world. Enjoy food and culture from around the globe, and a fantastic arts, theater and music scene. With everything you need right at your doorstep, a Metro rail hub, and a prime location inside the D.C. Beltway, Silver Spring it’s the perfect home for all of those D.C. amenities without the District headaches.

Salisbury

City living on the shore.

Get outdoors without leaving downtown at Salisbury’s Pemberton Historical Park, or make the short, 20-minute trek to the Nanticoke River Wildlife Area to paddle your way through pristine wetlands right outside town. Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore let you level up your opportunities right around the corner. Unwind sipping craft beer at Evolution Craft Brewing, or make a last minute afternoon escape to Maryland’s beautiful ocean beaches.

National Harbor

Find your forever home in this gleaming riverside oasis.

With its gleaming steel and glass towers rising from the cherry tree lined shores of the Potomac River, Maryland’s newest city certainly makes an impression. Ride the towering Capital Wheel and take in National Harbor’s stunning views of Washington, D.C, catch a show at the MGM, watch an outdoor movie on the charming boardwalk, and hit the upscale eateries and shops of town center. It’s pretty clear National Harbor is a prime vacation destination, but it’s also an amazing place to live.

Hagerstown

Get your work/life balance on the mountain side.

Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Bear Pond Mountains, Hagerstown is paradise for those who love the outdoors. Hit the slopes of nearby WISP an easy afternoon’s drive away, or stay downtown and wander the Hagerstown Cultural Trail highlighted by the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, a community hub considered one of the finest small art museums in the country. Combine it all with an attainable cost of living and it’s clear this idyllic town is right sized for your next move.

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Meet the Marylanders

Alyssa

Favorite Daytrip:

The Ocean (less than 3 hours from Central Maryland)

Jeniffer

Likes to Head Out For:

Restaurant Week specials in Baltimore and Columbia.

Donte

Connects with Community At:

State and County Fairs

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