St. Mary's County, Maryland: commercial real estate data.
St. Mary's County, Maryland had an estimated 116,469 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 113,778, across 357 square miles. County output reached $10.45 bn in 2024, 2,090 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 68 7(a) approvals worth $44.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Mary's County
How many people live in St. Mary's County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024115,126
- Households42,436
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$119,446
- Median age37.2
- Median gross rent$1,747 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$407,600
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over77,645
- Population under 1827,549
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over16,144
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6471,433
- Civilian labor force59,329
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.7 percent
- Rank by population among Maryland counties12th of 24
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included548th of 3,222
St. Mary's County is the 12th largest of 24 Maryland counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 14.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Mary's County
Is St. Mary's County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024116,469
- Census 2020 base population113,778
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.37 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024990
- Births, 20241,374
- Deaths, 20241,011
- Natural change, 2024363
- Net domestic migration, 2024416
- Net international migration, 2024214
- Total net migration, 2024630
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024129
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1045th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.37 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.
St. Mary's County
Where are people moving to St. Mary's County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,135
- People arriving, from those returns5,912
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,278
- Net household movement-143
- Adjusted gross income arriving$226.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-60.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$72,274
- Average income of a leaving household$87,707
- Largest single originCharles County (536 households)
- Largest single destinationCalvert County (333 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles County | 536 | 980 | $38.9 m |
| Calvert County | 386 | 657 | $25.3 m |
| Prince George's County | 252 | 476 | $14.5 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 74 | 141 | $4.8 m |
| San Diego County | 72 | 160 | $5.1 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 55 | 128 | $4.5 m |
| Virginia Beach city | 53 | 127 | $3.5 m |
| Fairfax County | 49 | 108 | $5.3 m |
Households arriving report $15,433 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Charles 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.
St. Mary's County
What is the St. Mary's County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$10.45 bn
- County GDP, 2023$9.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.2 percent
- GDP change over five years24.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maryland areas BEA publishes9th of 24
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes424th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$90,735
Output grew 6.2 percent in the latest year and 24.7 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.
St. Mary's County
Employment by industry in St. Mary's County
- Covered employment, annual average49,113
- Establishments reporting2,185
- Average annual pay$85,381
- Average weekly wage$1,642
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment11,705
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$112,202
- Retail trade, employment4,799
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,459
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,358
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$74,230
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,677
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,723
- Construction, employment2,116
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,820
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 11,705 | 392 | $112,202 |
| Retail trade | 4,799 | 282 | $35,459 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,358 | 214 | $74,230 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,677 | 190 | $24,723 |
| Construction | 2,116 | 252 | $76,982 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,820 | 118 | $81,811 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,001 | 164 | $42,366 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 824 | 89 | $72,379 |
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 11,705 jobs, 23.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Mary's County
How many businesses are in St. Mary's County?
- Establishments, all industries2,090
- Employment at those establishments32,683
- Annual payroll$2.22 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.2
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.
St. Mary's County
Building permits in St. Mary's County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024265
- Declared construction value permitted$91.6 m
- Single family units authorized265
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$345,535
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Mary's County
SBA loans in St. Mary's County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded68
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$44.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$647,496
- Median 7(a) approval$225,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,761,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)682
- Jobs per approval10.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active25
- Distinct industries receiving approvals42
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter55
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals14.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (8)
- Most active lenderNortheast Bank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded13
- 504 gross approval dollars$12.4 m
- Average 504 approval$955,692
- Median 504 approval$525,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval8.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.1
- Most active CDCChesapeake Business Finance Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$56.5 m
The average approval of $647,496 sits well above the median of $225,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 11.8 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.
St. Mary's County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Mary's County
Do SBA loans in St. Mary's County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full7
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure45
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
- Status: Charged off1
Only 8 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.
St. Mary's County
SBA lending by place in St. Mary's County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Leonardtown, approvals15
- California, approvals14
- Lexington Park, approvals11
- Charlotte Hall, approvals9
- Mechanicsville, approvals8
- Great Mills, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Leonardtown | 15 | $11,050,200 |
| California | 14 | $10,619,000 |
| Lexington Park | 11 | $3,422,000 |
| Charlotte Hall | 9 | $10,712,900 |
| Mechanicsville | 8 | $2,431,200 |
| Great Mills | 3 | $1,446,700 |
| Hollywood | 3 | $928,200 |
| Piney Point | 2 | $2,350,500 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 3 | $1,069,000 |
Leonardtown accounts for 15 approvals against 14 in California. 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.
St. Mary's County
How large is St. Mary's County?
- Land area357 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maryland counties16th of 24
- Width, east to west30 mi
- Height, north to south33 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary2
- Residents per square mile of land322
- Establishments per square mile5.85
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.
St. Mary's County
Flood risk in St. Mary's County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in St. Mary's County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places St. Mary's 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024115,126
- Households42,436
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$119,446
- Median age37.2
Common questions
St. Mary's County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Mary's County, Maryland?
The Census Bureau estimates 116,469 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 115,126, in 42,436 households, ranking 12th of 24 Maryland counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Mary's County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.37 percent since the 2020 census base of 113,778, to 116,469 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,374 births against 1,011 deaths, with net migration of 630. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Mary's County?
$119,446. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $407,600, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,747 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Mary's County?
2,090 establishments, employing 32,683 people with an annual payroll of $2.22 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 St. Mary's County?
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 11,705 jobs, 23.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 49,113 jobs at an average annual pay of $85,381, or $1,642 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Mary's County?
68 7(a) approvals totaling $44.0 m since FY2020, across 25 lenders, with a median approval of $225,000, plus 13 504 approvals worth $12.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Mary's County?
265 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $91.6 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's County come from?
The largest single origin is Charles County, with 536 households. Arriving households report an average income of $72,274 against $87,707 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's 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.
St. Mary's County
Cities and places in St. Mary's.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Mary's County. All 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | CDP | 13,252 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| California | CDP | 13,136 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Wildewood | CDP | 7,552 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leonardtown | town | 4,808 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Golden Beach | CDP | 3,830 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mechanicsville | CDP | 1,395 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Piney Point | CDP | 1,274 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Charlotte Hall | CDP | 1,172 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Callaway | CDP | 930 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tall Timbers | CDP | 391 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. George Island | CDP | 277 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 9 of the county's 68 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Mary's County, the largest being Great Mills (3), Hollywood (3), Valley Lee (2). 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