County · Maryland

Worcester County, Maryland

Worcester County, Maryland. Worcester County had 54,459 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than Maryland (+1.4%). It holds 11 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 7 census-designated) and 18 census tracts. GEOID 24047.

Worcester County is the county of the Ocean Pines, MD micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

54,459

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 52,460 · ACS 2020-2024: 53,700

Median household income

$81,745

±$4,130 (90% margin)
Maryland: $103,678

Median home value

$374,700

±$9,482 (90% margin)
Maryland: $419,900

Median gross rent

$1,159

±$85 (90% margin)
Maryland: $1,705

How many people live in Worcester County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 52,460 residents in Worcester County. The Census Bureau estimates 54,459 for July 1, 2025, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than Maryland (+1.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 53,700 over 468 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +853 (53,377)
2021→2022 +597 (53,974)
2022→2023 +263 (54,237)
2023→2024 +144 (54,381)
2024→2025 +78 (54,459)

Worcester County in Maryland. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Worcester County	Maryland	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	53,700	6,206,011	+1,935
Households	24,136±541	2,362,928	+2,047
Average household size	2.19±0.05	2.57	−0.12
Housing units	56,867±96	2,560,784	+557

Worcester County's population since 2000

From 46,543 in 2000 to 54,459 in 2025: up 17.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 46,543
2005 (estimate) 50,181
2010 Census 51,454
2015 (estimate) 51,472
2020 Census 52,460
2025 (estimate) 54,459

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Worcester County?

Worcester County holds 11 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Ocean Pines with 12,351 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Worcester County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Ocean Pines	CDP	12,145	12,351±636	$91,824	$380,100	5.5%	100%
Ocean City	town	6,844	6,903±20	$77,750	$429,000	10.9%	100%
Berlin	town	5,026	5,232±21	$81,438	$423,500	18.9%	100%
West Ocean City	CDP	4,952	5,198±558	$97,165	$423,700	6.4%	100%
Pocomoke City	city	4,295	4,405±46	$53,203	$199,000	15.3%	100%
Snow Hill	town	2,156	2,659±476	$48,382	$222,900	18.4%	100%
BishopvilleGEOID 2407625	CDP	499	516±267	not published	$623,000	0.0%	100%
NewarkGEOID 2455325	CDP	401	244±175	$92,361	$337,500	0.0%	100%
WhaleyvilleGEOID 2483746	CDP	192	198±182	$115,288	$187,800	3.0%	100%
GirdletreeGEOID 2432250	CDP	141	77±73	not published	$187,500	0.0%	100%
StocktonGEOID 2475200	CDP	91	110±101	$84,306	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Worcester County?

The median resident of Worcester County is 50.7 years old; 17.1% are under 18 and 28.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.0%. 4.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Worcester County	Maryland	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	50.7±0.3	39.4	no clear change
Under 18 years	17.1%±0.1 pts	22.2%	–
65 years and over	28.6%±0.2 pts	16.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.0%	12.5%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	77.8%±0.7 pts	46.6%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	12.0%±0.5 pts	28.9%	−0.7 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.4%±0.2 pts	6.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.0%±0.8 pts	4.6%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.4 pts	0.7%	–
Born outside the United States	4.7%±0.8 pts	16.6%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.3%±0.9 pts	21.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.4%±0.9 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	15.4%±1.4 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±1.0 pts	6.3%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.0%±0.9 pts	91.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	35.3%±1.9 pts	43.4%	+6.3 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	13.9%±1.3 pts	20.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.0%±0.9 pts	2.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Worcester County earn?

Half of Worcester County's 24,136 households earn less than $81,745 a year (±$4,130), against $103,678 in Maryland. In 2015-2019 it was $78,148 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Worcester County	Maryland	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$81,745±$4,130	$103,678	no clear change
Mean household income	$117,610±$6,325	$136,642	–
Per capita income	$53,274±$3,004	$52,979	+$6,409
People below the poverty line	9.9%±1.4 pts	9.4%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	14.6%±3.8 pts	11.5%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.9%±1.5 pts	11.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	91.2%±1.6 pts	92.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Worcester County?

Owners occupy 78.0% of Worcester County's occupied homes and renters 22.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $374,700 by its owner (±$9,482). The median renter pays $1,159 a month including utilities, and 45.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Worcester County	Maryland	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$374,700±$9,482	$419,900	+$52,012
Median gross rent	$1,159±$85	$1,705	−$115
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	45.5%±6.2 pts	42.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,948±$66	$2,347	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.0%±1.9 pts	67.6%	+2.9 pts
Housing units	56,867±96	2,560,784	+557
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.0%±0.9 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	10.9%±3.6 pts	4.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	42.8%±1.2 pts	51.2%	–
Mobile homes	4.8%±0.7 pts	1.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.4 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	4.1%±0.8 pts	10.7%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Worcester County building?

Builders took permits for 242 new housing units across Worcester County in 2025 (242 single-family), 4.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 316 units
2020 265 units
2021 462 units
2022 304 units
2023 508 units
2024 354 units
2025 242 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Worcester County get to work?

75.8% of Worcester County's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Worcester County	Maryland	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.8%±1.5 pts	67.1%	–
Unemployment rate	6.7%±1.1 pts	4.9%	+1.8 pts
Drove alone to work	75.8%±2.4 pts	64.7%	–
Carpooled	7.5%±1.4 pts	7.7%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.4 pts	4.2%	–
Walked	2.1%±0.9 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	12.3%±1.8 pts	19.3%	+6.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	23.3 min±1.3	31.1 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Worcester County's census tracts?

Worcester County is divided into 18 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,167 (Tract 9513) to $113,807 (Tract 9504).

Census tracts of Worcester County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950024047950000	Ocean City (96%)	1,917	1,837±329	$62,083	$435,200	$1,169	22.5%
Tract 950124047950100	Ocean City (98%)	1,845	2,142±282	$96,731	$496,900	$1,381	7.1%
Tract 950324047950300	Ocean City (94%)	3,156	3,068±314	$71,523	$382,000	$1,401	6.3%
Tract 950424047950400	West Ocean City (78%)	3,394	3,585±477	$113,807	$524,000	$1,710	5.6%
Tract 950624047950600	Ocean Pines	3,122	3,161±448	$102,453	$426,600	$2,311	3.3%
Tract 950724047950700	Ocean Pines (86%)	2,495	2,487±375	$87,548	$347,700	$2,157	7.4%
Tract 950824047950800	Bishopville (10%)	5,454	5,074±650	$109,959	$563,400	$1,125	7.1%
Tract 950924047950900	Newark (6%)	2,351	2,426±293	$83,125	$403,100	$1,599	11.7%
Tract 951024047951000	Berlin (67%)	4,584	4,783±432	$69,327	$372,000	$969	21.7%
Tract 9511.0124047951101	Ocean Pines (87%)	3,569	3,378±420	$89,047	$370,500	$1,597	4.2%
Tract 9511.0224047951102	Ocean Pines	3,275	3,501±506	$84,028	$398,900	$1,844	7.2%
Tract 951224047951200	Newark (7%)	3,088	3,134±492	$81,042	$311,100	$1,372	9.9%
Tract 951324047951300	Snow Hill (77%)	2,681	2,984±477	$49,167	$215,200	$989	17.5%
Tract 951424047951400	Pocomoke City (8%)	3,129	3,511±483	$69,740	$283,600	$791	5.7%
Tract 951524047951500	Pocomoke City (65%)	4,995	4,953±370	$52,264	$193,300	$870	15.2%
Tract 951724047951700	West Ocean City (40%)	3,405	3,676±456	$94,392	$394,100	$1,402	7.2%
Tract 980024047980000	–	0	0±14	not published	not published	not published	–
Tract 990024047990000	–	0	0±14	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Worcester County compare with Maryland's other counties?

Worcester County's rank among Maryland's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	17th of 24
Growth 2020-2025	4th of 24
Residents per square mile	19th of 24
Median household income	15th of 24
Median home value	13th of 24
Median gross rent	18th of 24
Poverty rate	11th of 24
Bachelor's degree or higher	15th of 24
Median age	2nd of 24

Every county in Maryland

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Worcester County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.