CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

39.22° N · 76.76° W · GEOID 2441475

Ilchester

Howard County, Maryland · part of the Baltimore, MD metro

MarylandIlchester, MDIlchesterIlchester

The short answer

Ilchester is home to 28,364 people. Median household income is $152,103 a year and median rent is $2,115 a month, 16.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $532,400, about 3.5x annual median household income.

Ilchester stands out for what is close at hand. 40 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 97% of places its size. It is the highest of 199 Maryland places we track. Also notable: After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $124,600 a year, more than in 92% of places its size.

89OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Ilchester scores better than 89% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 16th of 199 in Maryland.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%70
Economy 20%90
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%34
Education 10%91
Commute 10%35
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,115
55% above the median place
Median household income
$152,103
89% above the median place
Median home value
$532,400
67% above the median place
Unemployment
3.0%
38% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

01

Moving to Ilchester

Howard County loses about 3.8 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in19,743
Moved out20,864
Net−1,121

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Maryland, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MarylandOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$89K
Leavers$99K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Howard County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.9% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Howard County report $89,500 a year in income on average; those leaving, $98,700, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$84,600 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,115 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,856 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $532,400.
Getting to work
28 minutes each way on average; 27.7% work from home; 2.0% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Clive, IA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
1.9%
7% below the median place
Moved here in the past year1
6.0%
5% above the median place
Income of households moving out7
$98,722
40% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year16.0%5% above
Moved from another state11.9%7% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-3.8below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$89,46327% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$98,72240% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median household earns $152,103 a year, more than in 93% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Ilchester16.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$84,600
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.7%
18% below the median place
Home price to income
3.5x
8% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$124,500
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Ilchester, $2,115 a month, and local prices for everything else (101.7 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Ilchester, but easier on the budget

Places that match Ilchester on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Clive, IA949.7% vs 16.7%$3,400Compare
Dublin, OH8912.6% vs 16.7%$19,800Compare
Tega Cay, SC8811.9% vs 16.7%$4,000Compare
Damascus, MD8413.5% vs 16.7%$12,400Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Ilchester.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Ilchester? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Vacant homes1
2.2%
68% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$2,856
53% above the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$6,631
103% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,11555% above
Rent to income116.7%18% below
Property tax rate11.3%37% above
Home price to income13.5x8% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure104.54% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,00624% above
HUD area median income4County figure$134,00025% above
Property tax paid (median)1$6,631103% above
Median home value1$532,40067% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.0%37% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure39.6%23% below
Homeownership176.4%15% above
Renters paying 30%+149.0%3% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,85653% above
Vacant homes12.2%68% below
Median year built119951% above
03

Work and pay

28% of workers mostly work from home, more than in 91% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Median household income1
$152,103
89% above the median place
Works from home1
27.7%
123% above the median place
Unemployment1
3.0%
38% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$63,266 +58%
Poverty rate5.1% −52%
Commutes by transit2.0% 2.4×
Mean commute28 min +11%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$152,10389% above
Income per person1$63,26658% above
Unemployment13.0%38% below
Average annual pay6County figure$90,29637% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs6County figure173,08815% above
Poverty rate15.1%52% below
Mean commute128 min11% above
Works from home127.7%123% above
Commutes by transit12.0%138% above
04

Who lives here

63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a larger share than in 89% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Homes with broadband1
98.2%
6% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
62.9%
96% above the median place
No health insurance1
3.4%
47% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad20.6% 2.3×
Household size2.8 +13%
High school or higher94.7% +3%
Median age36.8 −6%
All 8 people measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population128,3641621st largest
Median age136.86% below
Bachelor's or higher162.9%96% above
High school or higher194.7%3% above
Household size12.813% above
Born abroad120.6%133% above
No health insurance13.4%47% below
Homes with broadband198.2%6% above
05

Life in Ilchester

About 45 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 96% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1761. 42 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 3 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents3.2 −69%
Playgrounds per 10k17.6 +87%
Grocery stores per 10k0.3 −83%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k5.3 −53%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails45 km 22.7×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.2 −10%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail 11 miles
  • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine 11 miles
  • Hampton National Historic Site 17 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars19.6 −6%
Shops25.1 −17%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.4 +32%
Doctors' offices and clinics28.1 +39%
Child care centers3.4 +48%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
10.5
66% below the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
28.1
39% above the median place
Child care centers per 10k8
3.4
48% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure78above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure57,565above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure13.711% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure19.66% below
Shops per 10k8County figure25.117% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure5.432% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure28.139% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure3.448% above
Parks per 10k93.269% below
Playgrounds per 10k917.687% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.383% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k95.353% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails945.4above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.210% below
Nearest National Park Service site1010.566% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1040above (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure42223% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 33, 23% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Ilchester. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index15
33
23% below the median place
Wildfire risk14
15.6
75% below the median place
Tornado risk14
42.2
48% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureIlchesterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure87°F0% below
January average low13County figure24°F4% below
Average temperature13County figure55°F0% below
Annual precipitation13County figure46.1 in5% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure72.422% below
Hurricane risk14County figure81.215% above
Tornado risk14County figure42.248% below
Wildfire risk14County figure15.675% below
Heat wave risk14County figure89.31% below
Median air quality index15County figure3323% below
Good air days15County figure80.3%17% above
08

Ilchester in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 17% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Ilchester does better than 70% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 24%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,115/mo (2024)$2,690/mo$2,200 to $3,270/mo+4.1%
Median household income$152,103 (2024)$192,500$162,500 to $227,500+4.0%
Median home value$532,400 (2024)$750,000$545,000 to $1,034,000+5.9%

The median home would be worth 3.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Ilchester

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Crofton, MD$2,217$150,577Compare
Countryside, VA$2,234$148,810Compare
Arnold, MD$2,158$141,639Compare
Timberwood Park, TX$1,998$157,100Compare
Timberwood Park, TXArnold, MDCountryside, VACrofton, MDIlchester, MDIlchesterCroftonCountrysideArnoldTimberwood ParkIlchesterCroftonCountrysideArnoldTimberwood Park

Places built like Ilchester

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Ilchester performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Ilchester, MD16.7%3.7%/yrn/a
Oviedo, FL20.0%4.1%/yr3.2%Compare
Leesburg, VA17.4%4.9%/yr3.3%Compare
Burke Centre, VA18.4%4.4%/yrn/aCompare
Crofton, MD17.7%4.0%/yrn/aCompare
Cascades, VA19.1%2.0%/yrn/aCompare
Sugar Hill, GA20.8%4.3%/yr16.8%Compare

Common questions

Is Ilchester a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 89 out of 100, better than 89% of the places we rate and 16th of 199 in Maryland. On cost, space and class size it scores 93 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Ilchester expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $532,400.

What salary do you need to live in Ilchester?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $84,600 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Ilchester?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Crofton, MD, Countryside, VA, Arnold, MD and Timberwood Park, TX.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Ilchester with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Ilchester itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/ilchester-maryland

Citytistics. “Ilchester, Maryland.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/ilchester-maryland/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.