City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

La Vale, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for La Vale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,388
Residents
$77,634
Median income
$171,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

La Vale - the verdict

La Vale ranks in the 59th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

59th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: La Vale, MD

La Vale is a small town in Maryland, home to 4,388 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in La Vale brings in $77,634 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. La Vale's housing stock carries a median value of $171,300, and the median resident age is 45.2 years. About 36.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $255 across Maryland, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 58.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

4,388 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$77,634 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does La Vale compare to other US cities?

Where La Vale sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares La Vale against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maryland only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maryland-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places La Vale near the bottom of Maryland's cities

Among the 479 Maryland cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, La Vale ranks #437 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares La Vale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#324 of 445
27th percentile in Maryland
Median Gross Rent
#437 of 479
0th percentile in Maryland
Median Home Value
#414 of 450
8th percentile in Maryland
Poverty Rate
#223 of 479
53rd percentile in Maryland
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#224 of 479
53rd percentile in Maryland

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maryland only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

59thIncome percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How La Vale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$171,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. La Vale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - La Vale, MD La Vale, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not La Vale, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution La Vale, MD median $77,634/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
La Vale, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for La Vale, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,388
Median Income
$77,634
Median Home Value
$171,300
Median Age
45.2
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
61.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.4%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
13.4%

Based on 2,202 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county La Vale sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
58.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Pocomoke City
4,360 people
National Harbor
4,418 people
Perryville
4,425 people
Sykesville
4,346 people
Shady Side
4,460 people
Springdale
4,476 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to La Vale's 4,388 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Denver City, TX
4,388 people
Coldwater, OH
4,387 people
Pleasant Run Farm, OH
4,390 people
Scottsville, KY
4,391 people
Lemmon Valley, NV
4,385 people
Minersville, PA
4,391 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to La Vale's $77,634 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Guttenberg, NJ
$77,636 median income
Chapin, SC
$77,632 median income
Boronda, CA
$77,639 median income
Lower Grand Lagoon, FL
$77,639 median income
Liverpool, NY
$77,629 median income
Ellport, PA
$77,639 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - La Vale, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition La Vale, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.4% White 89.9% Black or African American 3.0% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 4.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How La Vale compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
La Vale (this city) 4,388 $77,634
Pocomoke City 4,360 $52,163
National Harbor 4,418 $133,616
Perryville 4,425 $75,543
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about La Vale, MD?

What is the population of La Vale, MD? +

La Vale, MD has a population of 4,388 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in La Vale, MD? +

La Vale households earn a median of $77,634 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in La Vale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for La Vale; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in La Vale, MD? +

Homes in La Vale carry a median value of $171,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.