City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

West Ocean, MD

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

5,124
Residents
$93,776
Median income
$418,700
Median home
$1,194
Median rent (state)

West Ocean - the verdict

Nationally, West Ocean sits in the 74th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

74th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
36th
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: West Ocean, MD

West Ocean is a small town in Maryland, home to 5,124 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in West Ocean brings in $93,776 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. West Ocean's housing stock carries a median value of $418,700, and the median resident age is 49.3 years. About 35.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Maryland scores 105.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,194 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Maryland's average monthly utility costs around $255 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 68.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

5,124 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$93,776 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does West Ocean compare to other US cities?

Here's how West Ocean stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 74% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% 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 West Ocean 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 West Ocean toward the bottom of Maryland's cities

Among the 479 Maryland cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, West Ocean ranks #406 - the 13th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares West Ocean only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#249 of 445
44th percentile in Maryland
Median Gross Rent
#406 of 479
13th percentile in Maryland
Median Home Value
#170 of 450
62nd percentile in Maryland
Poverty Rate
#213 of 479
55th percentile in Maryland
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#237 of 479
50th 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.

74thIncome percentile

74th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Ocean's home value compares nationally

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

$418,700 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. West Ocean $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 - West Ocean, MD West Ocean, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Ocean, 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 West Ocean, MD median $93,776/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%
West Ocean, 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 West Ocean, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.7%

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

Population
5,124
Median Income
$93,776
Median Home Value
$418,700
Median Age
49.3
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
61.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.1%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.1%
Carpool
4.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
5.8%
Other
0.7%

Based on 2,551 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 West Ocean sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,194/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Hampton
5,138 people
Middletown
5,108 people
Berlin
5,161 people
Silver Hill
5,068 people
Deale
5,182 people
Cresaptown
5,238 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Ocean's 5,124 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Headland, AL
5,124 people
Apple Valley, OH
5,125 people
Doffing, TX
5,126 people
Boothwyn, PA
5,129 people
Glenwood, IA
5,118 people
Pendleton, IN
5,115 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Ocean's $93,776 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grandview, TX
$93,790 median income
Maalaea, HI
$93,750 median income
Willow Lake, IL
$93,750 median income
Montgomery, IN
$93,750 median income
Trenton, KY
$93,750 median income
Lena, MS
$93,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Ocean, 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 West Ocean, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.1% 7.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.7% White 87.1% Black or African American 4.9% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 7.0% 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 West Ocean 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
West Ocean (this city) 5,124 $93,776
Hampton 5,138 $171,969
Middletown 5,108 $159,342
Berlin 5,161 $78,883
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Ocean, MD?

What is the population of West Ocean, MD? +

West Ocean, MD counts 5,124 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Ocean, MD? +

The median household income in West Ocean is $93,776 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Ocean? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for West Ocean; 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 West Ocean, MD? +

West Ocean's median home value sits at $418,700, 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

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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.