Cheapest, most expensive communities in Md.
Want to live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country? You won't have to move far. (You might even be there now.)
Coldwell Banker Real Estate's new ranking of just over 2,300 markets in the country by average price puts Annapolis at No. 2,240, meaning it's among the 100 priciest areas -- No. 1 is cheapest. Annapolis is the priciest sizable market in Maryland by Coldwell Banker's measurement, outpacing the Washington suburbs of Rockville and Silver Spring.
The list doesn't include everything you might consider its own market, such as tony Potomac and Bethesda. And the calculation for Baltimore appears to include at least part of Baltimore County, upping its average price to $265,000 rather than the $135,000 measured by the local multiple-listing service.
But hey, everyone loves a ranking. Go on, have a look:
| Market | Average price | Nationwide rank |
|---|---|---|
| CUMBERLAND | $160,497 | 316 |
| CLINTON | $212,608 | 918 |
| HAGERSTOWN | $235,475 | 1,119 |
| SALISBURY | $239,343 | 1,152 |
| BALTIMORE | $264,557 | 1,360 |
| FORT WASHINGTON | $265,961 | 1,372 |
| WALDORF | $273,605 | 1,418 |
| GLEN BURNIE | $274,715 | 1,420 |
| BOWIE | $311,079 | 1,596 |
| LAUREL | $316,509 | 1,612 |
| LEXINGTON PARK | $325,580 | 1,645 |
| HAMPSTEAD | $327,600 | 1,647 |
| CATONSVILLE | $336,885 | 1,679 |
| WESTMINSTER | $337,811 | 1,681 |
| LEONARDTOWN | $350,417 | 1,729 |
| SEVERN | $372,447 | 1,797 |
| CENTREVILLE | $383,942 | 1,833 |
| PASADENA | $384,739 | 1,839 |
| BEL AIR | $389,645 | 1,855 |
| COLUMBIA | $395,180 | 1,865 |
| LUTHERVILLE TIMONIUM | $410,004 | 1,906 |
| TOWSON | $411,006 | 1,909 |
| CROFTON | $430,708 | 1,956 |
| ARNOLD | $443,841 | 1,975 |
| OCEAN CITY | $446,702 | 1,984 |
| ELLICOTT CITY | $501,471 | 2,074 |
| MILLERSVILLE | $503,506 | 2,078 |
| OCEAN PINES | $505,224 | 2,080 |
| SEVERNA PARK | $533,668 | 2,122 |
| ROCKVILLE | $534,255 | 2,123 |
| SILVER SPRING | $634,841 | 2,209 |
| ANNAPOLIS | $688,232 | 2,240 |
What communities aren't on the list that are worthy of being considered their own housing markets, rather than satellites of larger neighborhoods?
And where do you think buyers get the most bang for their buck?
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Comments
I'm kind of surprised not to see Parkville and Dundalk/Essex on that list. Those are pretty distinct and large communities with very affordable housing.
Posted by: bryanintowson | June 16, 2011 12:47 PM
I'm actually surprised Annapolis is so high. I grew up in the area, and didn't feel like I was in one of the most expensive areas growing up.
Posted by: Gary | June 16, 2011 4:51 PM
When figuring the average, a few very expensive homes will raise the overall average quite a bit. That's called the "mean" average. It would be more telling to see what the median average is.
Posted by: Eric | June 17, 2011 8:11 PM
Where's Frederick?
Posted by: Bob in Columbia | June 19, 2011 10:55 AM
bryanintowson, I'm figuring that Parkville and Dundalk/Essex got subsumed into the city figure, even though they are separate markets. But that's no explanation for why Frederick isn't on the list. Very strange! Good catch, Bob in Columbia.
Posted by: Jamie Smith Hopkins | June 19, 2011 10:59 AM
I think that its hard to talk of an "Average " price in a city like Baltimore,where house prices range from $8,000 to $800,000..
All cities have a range of prices.But Baltimore's prices really do go to seperate extremes
Posted by: Pete from Highlandtown | June 20, 2011 1:40 AM
Im surprised that Waldorf is missing from the list.As well as Frederick.And most of PG County and Montgomry County. I think that Germantown is something like the third largest city in Maryland.
Posted by: Pete from Highlandtown | June 20, 2011 1:44 AM
What about Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg and Potomac. There's some mighty pricey housing on River Road!
Posted by: MC | June 20, 2011 9:14 AM