Maryland
MD • South
Quality of Life Score
49.79
State Comparison
Maryland vs Virginia
Virginia is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Virginia, Maryland has higher incomes, and Maryland gets more sunshine.
Maryland
9
/ 29
metrics won
Score
VS
Virginia
20
/ 29
metrics won
VA wins Housing
VA wins Quality of Life
VA wins Climate
MD wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Maryland
vs
Virginia
winner
Virginia scores higher on quality of life — 6.39 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Virginia is 18.0 points cheaper overall
Virginia has the lower cost-of-living index. Virginia is at 103.7, while Maryland is at 121.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $8.29 further in Virginia
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $104.84 of local buying power in Virginia, versus $96.55 in Maryland.
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Income
Maryland income is 12.9% higher
Maryland has the higher median household income at $98,461, compared with $87,249 in Virginia.
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Jobs
Virginia has the higher minimum wage
Virginia has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $15.00/hr in Maryland.
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Housing
Maryland homes cost about 1.0x more
Virginia has the lower median home value at $367,900, versus $375,600 in Maryland.
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Taxes
Virginia has lower state income tax
Virginia has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.75%, compared with 5.75% in Maryland.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Maryland
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.8%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Virginia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.8%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (107.7 for Maryland, 102.4 for Virginia). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Maryland
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Maryland
- Maryland has a lower housing cost index.
- Maryland shows higher median income.
- Maryland health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Maryland education proxy is higher.
- Maryland has more sunny days.
Cons
- Maryland has a higher overall cost of living.
- Maryland has higher median home values.
- Maryland has higher property tax rates on average.
- Maryland has a higher violent crime rate.
- Maryland job growth trend is weaker.
- Maryland health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Virginia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Virginia
- Virginia has a lower overall cost of living.
- Virginia has lower median home values.
- Virginia has lower property tax rates on average.
- Virginia has a lower violent crime rate.
- Virginia job growth trend is stronger.
- Virginia health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Virginia has a higher housing cost index.
- Virginia shows lower median income.
- Virginia health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Virginia education proxy is lower.
- Virginia has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
MD
|
VA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Annapolis | Richmond |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
6,177,224
|
8,631,393
|
|
Median Income
|
$98,461
|
$87,249
|
|
Cost of Living
|
121.7
|
103.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$375,600
|
$367,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.97%
|
0.73%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.75%
|
5.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.088/gal
|
$4.063/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
20.61 c/kWh
|
15.87 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
49.79
|
56.18
|
|
Average Temperature
|
54.2°F
|
55.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
105 days
|
100 days
|
|
Land Area
|
12,407 sq mi
|
42,775 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
497.9 per sq mi
|
201.8 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
April 28, 1788 (#7)
|
June 25, 1788 (#10)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
13
shown
Saving Money
Virginia is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.7 vs 121.7 in Maryland. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Virginia is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.063/gal in Virginia vs $4.088/gal in Maryland. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Virginia has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.87 c/kWh in Virginia vs 20.61 c/kWh in Maryland. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Maryland is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.81x in Maryland vs 4.22x in Virginia. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Maryland is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.5% in Maryland vs 20.9% in Virginia. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Virginia has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.73% in Virginia vs 0.97% in Maryland. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Virginia has a larger population than Maryland by 2,454,169 people.
Population Density
Maryland is more densely populated than Virginia.
Bachelor's Degree
Maryland has a higher college-educated share than Virginia.
Advanced Degree
Maryland has a higher advanced-degree share than Virginia.
People Also Ask
Maryland vs Virginia - Common Questions
Q Is Maryland cheaper to live in than Virginia?
Virginia has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Virginia scores 103.7 versus 121.7 for Maryland - a gap of 18.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Maryland or Virginia?
$100 goes further in Virginia. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $104.84 in Virginia, compared with $96.55 in Maryland.
Q Which state is bigger - Maryland or Virginia?
Virginia is larger, covering 42,775 sq mi compared with 12,407 sq mi for Maryland - roughly 3.4x the size.
Q Does Maryland or Virginia have more people?
Virginia has the larger population at 8,631,393, compared with 6,177,224 in Maryland.
Q Which state has higher household income - Maryland or Virginia?
Maryland has the higher median household income at $98,461, versus $87,249 in Virginia.
Q Is housing cheaper in Maryland or Virginia?
Homes are cheaper in Virginia, where the median home value is $367,900, versus $375,600 in Maryland.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Maryland or Virginia?
Maryland is more densely populated at 497.9 per sq mi people per sq mi. Virginia is more spread out at 201.8 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.