Worcester County, Maryland: commercial real estate data.
Worcester County, Maryland had an estimated 54,337 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 52,463, across 468 square miles. County output reached $4.14 bn in 2024, 2,256 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 65 7(a) approvals worth $24.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Worcester County
How many people live in Worcester County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202453,700
- Households24,136
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$81,745
- Median age50.7
- Median gross rent$1,159 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$374,700
- Home value to household income4.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher35.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over40,803
- Population under 189,185
- Share under 1817.1 percent
- Population 65 and over15,371
- Share 65 and over28.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6429,144
- Civilian labor force26,713
- Unemployment rate6.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.0 percent
- Rank by population among Maryland counties17th of 24
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included966th of 3,222
Worcester County is the 17th largest of 24 Maryland counties by population. A median home costs 4.6 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 28.6 percent against 17.1 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Worcester County
Is Worcester County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202454,337
- Census 2020 base population52,463
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024108
- Births, 2024430
- Deaths, 2024764
- Natural change, 2024-334
- Net domestic migration, 2024310
- Net international migration, 2024132
- Total net migration, 2024442
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,714
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents762nd of 3,144
The county has grown 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Worcester County
Where are people moving to Worcester County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,945
- People arriving, from those returns3,310
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,708
- Net household movement237
- Adjusted gross income arriving$199.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$80.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$102,475
- Average income of a leaving household$69,568
- Largest single originWicomico County (272 households)
- Largest single destinationWicomico County (337 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicomico County | 272 | 505 | $20.6 m |
| Baltimore County | 150 | 265 | $16.1 m |
| Sussex County | 136 | 222 | $13.3 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 108 | 180 | $15.4 m |
| Montgomery County | 77 | 131 | $10.8 m |
| Accomack County | 61 | 105 | $2.3 m |
| Harford County | 56 | 113 | $9.2 m |
| Howard County | 52 | 97 | $8.0 m |
Households arriving report $32,907 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Wicomico 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.
Worcester County
What is the Worcester County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.14 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.81 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.6 percent
- GDP change over five years50.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maryland areas BEA publishes16th of 24
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes789th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$77,060
Output grew 8.6 percent in the latest year and 50.3 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.
Worcester County
Employment by industry in Worcester County
- Covered employment, annual average26,303
- Establishments reporting2,455
- Average annual pay$45,838
- Average weekly wage$882
- Accommodation and food services, employment8,377
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,914
- Retail trade, employment3,906
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,263
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,383
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$59,810
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment1,285
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$36,338
- Construction, employment1,217
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment931
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 8,377 | 494 | $32,914 |
| Retail trade | 3,906 | 372 | $36,263 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,383 | 155 | $59,810 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,285 | 70 | $36,338 |
| Construction | 1,217 | 221 | $54,498 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 931 | 235 | $62,885 |
| Other services, except public administration | 801 | 172 | $39,967 |
| Manufacturing | 788 | 57 | $57,791 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 8,377 jobs, 31.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Worcester County
How many businesses are in Worcester County?
- Establishments, all industries2,256
- Employment at those establishments20,249
- Annual payroll$921.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents42.0
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.
Worcester County
Building permits in Worcester County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024354
- Declared construction value permitted$111.0 m
- Single family units authorized338
- Multifamily units authorized16
- Multifamily share of units4.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$313,646
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.7
Single-family homes are 95.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Worcester County
SBA loans in Worcester County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded65
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$24.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$373,158
- Median 7(a) approval$101,200
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,511,840
- Largest single approval$2,865,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)446
- Jobs per approval6.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals41
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter54
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals9.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (6)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (26)
- 504 approvals recorded11
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.1 m
- Average 504 approval$2,010,818
- Median 504 approval$1,562,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval23.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.8
- Most active CDCChesapeake Business Finance Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$46.4 m
The average approval of $373,158 sits well above the median of $101,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.3 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.
Worcester County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Worcester County
Do SBA loans in Worcester County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full14
- Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled14
- Status: Exempt from disclosure28
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
- Status: Charged off1
Only 15 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.
Worcester County
SBA lending by place in Worcester County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Ocean City, approvals27
- Berlin, approvals23
- Pocomoke City, approvals4
- Snow Hill, approvals4
- Whaleyville, approvals3
- Ocean Pines, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean City | 27 | $10,538,900 |
| Berlin | 23 | $6,948,500 |
| Pocomoke City | 4 | $3,491,400 |
| Snow Hill | 4 | $296,500 |
| Whaleyville | 3 | $2,910,000 |
| Ocean Pines | 2 | $40,000 |
| Bishopville | 1 | $20,000 |
| Newark | 1 | $10,000 |
Ocean City accounts for 27 approvals against 23 in Berlin. 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.
Worcester County
How large is Worcester County?
- Land area468 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maryland counties7th of 24
- Width, east to west33.3 mi
- Height, north to south31.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land115
- Establishments per square mile4.82
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.
Worcester County
Flood risk in Worcester County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Worcester County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 240083
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- 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 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Worcester County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Worcester County (community 240083), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Worcester County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 6, 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 Worcester 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 Worcester County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202453,700
- Households24,136
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$81,745
- Median age50.7
Common questions
Worcester County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Worcester County, Maryland?
The Census Bureau estimates 54,337 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 53,700, in 24,136 households, ranking 17th of 24 Maryland counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Worcester County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 52,463, to 54,337 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 430 births against 764 deaths, with net migration of 442. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Worcester County?
$81,745. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $374,700, which is 4.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,159 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Worcester County?
2,256 establishments, employing 20,249 people with an annual payroll of $921.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Worcester County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 8,377 jobs, 31.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 26,303 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,838, or $882 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Worcester County?
65 7(a) approvals totaling $24.3 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $101,200, plus 11 504 approvals worth $22.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Worcester County?
354 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $111.0 m. Multifamily was 4.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Worcester County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Worcester County come from?
The largest single origin is Wicomico County, with 272 households. Arriving households report an average income of $102,475 against $69,568 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Worcester 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 Worcester 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.
Worcester County
Cities and places in Worcester.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Worcester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Pines | CDP | 12,351 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ocean City | town | 6,903 | 27 | Wholly in this county |
| Berlin | town | 5,232 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| West Ocean City | CDP | 5,198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pocomoke City | city | 4,405 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Snow Hill | town | 2,659 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Bishopville | CDP | 516 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Newark | CDP | 244 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Whaleyville | CDP | 198 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Stockton | CDP | 110 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Girdletree | CDP | 77 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby