Charles County, Maryland: commercial real estate data.
Charles County, Maryland had an estimated 174,478 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 166,598, across 458 square miles. County output reached $8.67 bn in 2024, 2,793 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 137 7(a) approvals worth $59.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Charles County
How many people live in Charles County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024170,527
- Households60,875
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$122,816
- Median age38.9
- Median gross rent$1,920 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$428,500
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over115,693
- Population under 1840,722
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over23,350
- Share 65 and over13.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64106,455
- Civilian labor force92,148
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.0 percent
- Rank by population among Maryland counties10th of 24
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included402nd of 3,222
Charles County is the 10th largest of 24 Maryland counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 13.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Charles County
Is Charles County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024174,478
- Census 2020 base population166,598
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.73 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,210
- Births, 20241,539
- Deaths, 20241,392
- Natural change, 2024147
- Net domestic migration, 20241,492
- Net international migration, 2024588
- Total net migration, 20242,080
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,950
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents571st of 3,144
The county has grown 4.73 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Charles County
Where are people moving to Charles County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,966
- People arriving, from those returns10,891
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,642
- Net household movement324
- Adjusted gross income arriving$398.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-10.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$66,786
- Average income of a leaving household$72,537
- Largest single originPrince George's County (2,358 households)
- Largest single destinationPrince George's County (1,304 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | 2,358 | 4,376 | $156.9 m |
| District of Columbia | 334 | 606 | $22.5 m |
| St. Mary's County | 306 | 550 | $21.8 m |
| Fairfax County | 254 | 497 | $22.1 m |
| Montgomery County | 198 | 334 | $15.0 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 185 | 325 | $13.4 m |
| Calvert County | 143 | 224 | $8.9 m |
| Alexandria city | 112 | 170 | $8.4 m |
Households arriving report $5,751 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Prince George's County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Charles County
What is the Charles County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.67 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.02 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.2 percent
- GDP change over five years39.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maryland areas BEA publishes12th of 24
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes496th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$50,853
Output grew 8.2 percent in the latest year and 39.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Charles County
Employment by industry in Charles County
- Covered employment, annual average43,087
- Establishments reporting3,283
- Average annual pay$60,436
- Average weekly wage$1,162
- Retail trade, employment7,100
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,789
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,544
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,536
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,447
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$54,579
- Construction, employment2,894
- Construction, average annual pay$73,561
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,824
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,703
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 7,100 | 446 | $40,789 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,544 | 284 | $25,536 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,447 | 443 | $54,579 |
| Construction | 2,894 | 378 | $73,561 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,824 | 420 | $93,893 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,703 | 100 | $49,480 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,480 | 329 | $51,908 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,279 | 164 | $56,434 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 7,100 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Charles County
How many businesses are in Charles County?
- Establishments, all industries2,793
- Employment at those establishments33,675
- Annual payroll$1.58 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Charles County
Building permits in Charles County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,542
- Declared construction value permitted$423.5 m
- Single family units authorized1,026
- Multifamily units authorized516
- Multifamily share of units33.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$274,654
- Units authorized per 1,000 households25.3
Single-family homes are 66.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Charles County
SBA loans in Charles County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded137
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$59.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$437,534
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$22,400
- 90th percentile approval$1,096,200
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,527
- Jobs per approval11.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active42
- Distinct industries receiving approvals77
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms16
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter110
- Franchise loans16
- Franchise share of approvals11.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (9)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (29)
- 504 approvals recorded14
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.4 m
- Average 504 approval$817,357
- Median 504 approval$425,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.3
- Most active CDCChesapeake Business Finance Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$71.4 m
The average approval of $437,534 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 11.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Charles County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Charles County
Do SBA loans in Charles County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded23
- Paid in full20
- Charged off3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure77
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Cancelled21
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed16
Only 23 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Charles County
SBA lending by place in Charles County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending13
- Waldorf, approvals79
- White Plains, approvals21
- La Plata, approvals13
- Hughesville, approvals6
- Indian Head, approvals5
- Charlotte Hall, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Waldorf | 79 | $35,946,400 |
| White Plains | 21 | $9,097,200 |
| La Plata | 13 | $3,749,700 |
| Hughesville | 6 | $1,804,500 |
| Indian Head | 5 | $2,198,800 |
| Charlotte Hall | 3 | $2,883,000 |
| Bryans Road | 3 | $45,000 |
| Port Tobacco Village | 2 | $685,600 |
| 5 other borrower cities | 5 | $3,532,000 |
Waldorf accounts for 79 approvals against 21 in White Plains. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Charles County
How large is Charles County?
- Land area458 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maryland counties8th of 24
- Width, east to west33.1 mi
- Height, north to south31.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land372
- Establishments per square mile6.10
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Charles County
Flood risk in Charles County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Charles County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 240089
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Charles County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Charles County (community 240089), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Charles County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Charles County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Charles County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024170,527
- Households60,875
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$122,816
- Median age38.9
Common questions
Charles County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Charles County, Maryland?
The Census Bureau estimates 174,478 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 170,527, in 60,875 households, ranking 10th of 24 Maryland counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Charles County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.73 percent since the 2020 census base of 166,598, to 174,478 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,539 births against 1,392 deaths, with net migration of 2,080. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Charles County?
$122,816. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $428,500, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,920 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Charles County?
2,793 establishments, employing 33,675 people with an annual payroll of $1.58 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Charles County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 7,100 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 43,087 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,436, or $1,162 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Charles County?
137 7(a) approvals totaling $59.9 m since FY2020, across 42 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 14 504 approvals worth $11.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Charles County?
1,542 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $423.5 m. Multifamily was 33.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Charles County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Charles County come from?
The largest single origin is Prince George's County, with 2,358 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,786 against $72,537 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Charles County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Charles County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Charles County
Cities and places in Charles.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Charles County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf | CDP | 82,943 | 79 | Wholly in this county |
| Bensville | CDP | 15,848 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| La Plata | town | 10,683 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Bryans Road | CDP | 9,371 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Indian Head | town | 4,055 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Hughesville | CDP | 2,098 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Potomac Heights | CDP | 1,351 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cobb Island | CDP | 916 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pomfret | CDP | 747 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bryantown | CDP | 325 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rock Point | CDP | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Benedict | CDP | 148 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Port Tobacco Village | town | 4 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 28 of the county's 137 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Charles County, the largest being White Plains (21), Charlotte Hall (3), Newburg (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby