State rank#10 of 24
Smallest county170,527 residentsMontgomery County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 24017
Charles County, Maryland
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population170,527
Household income$122,816
Unemployment3.1%
Life expectancy76.7 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Charles County has 170,527 residents and ranks #10 by population among Maryland county equivalents. Median household income is $122,816. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Maryland
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Charles County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Charles County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $428,500 median home value and $1,920/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $122,816, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Charles County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and unemployment rate. College attainment is 33.5% and life expectancy is 76.7 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $122,816, rank #5 of 24 available Maryland counties.
- Uninsured: 4.9%, rank #5 of 24 available Maryland counties.
- Unemployment rate: 3.1%, rank #11 of 24 available Maryland counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,920/mo, rank #21 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 465 residents, rank #20 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,636 residents, rank #19 of 24; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Maryland
Rank and range use only counties in Maryland with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$122,816
$122,816; above the state county median of $91,888.
State rank #5 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$428,500
$428,500; above the state county median of $380,550.
State rank #17 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,920/mo
$1,920/mo; above the state county median of $1,402/mo.
State rank #21 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.1%
3.1%; below the state county median of 3.2%.
State rank #11 of 24 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
33.5%
33.5%; below the state county median of 36.6%.
State rank #16 of 24 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.7 years
76.7 years; below the state county median of 76.9 years.
State rank #16 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
16%
16%; above the state county median of 15.6%.
State rank #13 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.9%
4.9%; below the state county median of 6.1%.
State rank #5 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,636 residents
1 per 2,636 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,867 residents.
State rank #19 of 24 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 465 residents
1 per 465 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 356 residents.
State rank #20 of 24 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Charles County FAQ
Is Charles County a good place to live?
Charles County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and unemployment rate. College attainment is 33.5% and life expectancy is 76.7 years.
What should I know before moving to Charles County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $428,500 median home value and $1,920/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $122,816, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Charles County?
Charles County has 170,527 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Charles County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 24017; the parent state FIPS is 24.
What is the median household income in Charles County?
The ACS median household income is $122,816.
How much does housing cost in Charles County?
Housing benchmarks are $428,500 median home value and $1,920/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $122,816, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Charles County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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