Welcome to Maryland

Your life in the Old Line State begins

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Maryland Self-StorageReasons to Move to MarylandMoving to MarylandEconomic OutlookPlaces to LiveResources

Welcome to Maryland

When most people think of Maryland, a few images commonly come to mind: crabs, the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore’s harbor, and proximity to Washington, D.C. Okay, and probably The Wire, too.

Maryland is a small Mid-Atlantic state, but it holds a key spot in our nation’s history, The state can technically be considered part of the south, as the Mason-Dixon Line is on the state’s northern border, but its culture is more closely associated with the heart of the nation’s capital. In fact, two of Maryland’s cities — Baltimore and the state capital of Annapolis — served as the nation’s capital at one time. And, the land where Washington, D.C. is located was donated by the state.

Although it is a small state, it has a wide range of geographical features, from rural areas in the west to beaches on the Atlantic shore. And, there is an equally diverse array of communities, from suburbs and bedroom communities of Washington, D.C. to big city life in Baltimore. The variety of environments have even earned the state its other nickname, Little America.

Maryland Self-Storage Facts

The self-storage sector has been on a roll in Maryland lately. In recent years, new investment has poured into the acquisition and development of new facilities across the state as part of a broader nationwide boom. As more people move to the state and the population grows, more self-storage space is needed to serve people who are in the process of relocating. For several years after the recession, new development did not keep up with the natural demand. This led to record-high monthly rental prices in many areas. Rates are now returning to normal here and around the country as more storage inventory becomes available, but Maryland remains a premium market for self-storage.

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Maryland:

500

Maryland is home to more than 500 self-storage facilities

24,187,316

Maryland facilities offer more than 24,187,316 million square feet of storage space combined.

4.08

Maryland has 4.08 square feet of storage space for every man, woman, and child. That's less than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.

Reasons to Move to Maryland

If you're thinking about making the move, but aren't sure if Maryland is the right place for you, consider the following:

1

The Chesapeake Bay. The Bay is a big deal to almost all Marylanders, simply because of the small size of the state and the enormity of the bay. The Chesapeake is an estuary, meaning it is a place where fresh and saltwater mix. While the Bay is 200 miles long, there are over 11,000 miles of shoreline when you factor in all of the tidal tributaries. That’s more than the entire U.S. west coast.

2

Maryland is all about the blue crab. Few locations in the United States are as inextricably tied to a single culinary ingredient as Maryland is to the blue crab. Maryland residents put crab in everything, from crab cakes to crab bisque, but the preferred and easiest method to enjoy these crustaceans is steamed with Old Bay and dumped on a paper-lined table.

3

Maryland food is not limited to the sea. While crab is king, anyone familiar with Baltimore will likely rave about pit beef. These simple sandwiches are kind of like a french dip, featuring thinly sliced roast beef served on a hard roll with zippy horseradish mayo as an optional condiment. But, it’s much more than that. It is Maryland’s barbecue, and the best versions smell just like the fire that slowly roasts the beef to perfection.

4

The Atlantic shore. For the most part, when talking about the shore in Maryland, you mean Ocean City. Ocean City is a barrier island, on a long north-south sandspit. It is a highly developed tourist destination with a vibrant boardwalk, resorts, shops, and restaurants.

5

The wild coastline. To the south of Ocean City, Maryland exhibits a different kind of Atlantic ocean setting. The Assateague Island National Seashore area is a barrier island that is populated with wild ponies that travel the beach from Virginia to the northern part of the island — a stone’s throw from Ocean City.

6

Maryland sports. Even as a small state, Maryland has a strong sports scene. Baltimore is home to the Ravens NFL team and the Orioles MLB team. But, as you travel closer to Washington, D.C., the sports options increase to include the Redskins for football, Nationals for baseball, the Wizards for basketball, and the Capitals for hockey.

7

The nation’s capital. Of course, there is a lot more to do in the Washington, D.C. area than watch sports. The nation’s capital is full of museums, exhibits, monuments, and a vast urban area that is one of the world’s greatest tourist locations.

8

A strong military presence. Because of its history, location near the capital, and the accessibility of the Bay, there are many military personnel and veterans in the area. Annapolis is home to the Navy, but the state also hosts Fort Meade, Andrews Air Force Base, and Camp David.

9

Civil War history. As a state south of the Mason-Dixon Line, Maryland did not secede during the Civil War but was the setting for one of the bloodiest battles fought in the Civil War. The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg in the western area of the state. Today, the battle is commemorated at the Antietam National Battlefield.

10

Hiking in Appalachia. While Maryland seems to be all about the Bay, and proximity to Washington, D.C., the western part of the state is bisected by the Appalachian trail, offering outstanding hiking and recreation options.

Moving to Maryland

Maryland is the 9th smallest state by size, covering approximately 9,775 square miles. But, it ranks as the 19th largest state by population, with an estimated 6.06 million residents. This mix of small size and mid-level population means that Maryland can be a vibrant place to live, while not being too densely populated.

Maryland has shown a 9% population increase over the decade from 2000 to 2010. However, there are signs that this trend may be slowing, with a slight net loss of residents reported recently.

Maryland Economic Outlook

Maryland’s gross domestic product (GDP) is roughly $333 billion, a 5.23% increase over the past five years. That makes it the 15th largest state economy in the nation. The economic outlook in Maryland can be seen as a good news/bad news situation. The Maryland job market is strong, but the state’s relatively high cost of living and a perception that the state is not business-friendly could slow growth.

Even still, the unemployment rate in the state has been the lowest in the past 11 years, at only 3.7%, a figure less than the nationwide average of 4%. On average, there are 3,100 jobs added to Maryland’s payrolls each month. Recently, jobs in health services, education, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities have seen growth.

Who are Maryland's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Johns Hopkins University
37,759
MedStar Health
22,000
Black & Decker Corp.
22,000
Northrup Grumman Corp.
11,000
McCormick & Co.
8,000

Places to live in Maryland

While most of the state’s economic activity is in Baltimore and the cities and towns near Washington, D.C., the state spans wild rural areas that border West Virginia to more than 7,700 miles of coastline.

Here’s a quick look at the state’s three largest cities:

Baltimore

Baltimore boasts a population of 619,493, which is a huge number compared to other cities in the state. The average salary in the city is $56,522, which is roughly on par with the national average. The cost of living in Baltimore is, however, about 17 percent higher than the national average. The biggest employers in Baltimore include Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Northrop Grumman Corp.

Cost of living
17 percent above national average.
Median home price
$118,800.
Average rent
$1,263
Average apartment size
818 square feet

Frederick

Located just about 43 miles away from Baltimore is Maryland’s second most populous city, Frederick. The city of slightly more than 70,000 residents is also close to Washington, D.C., an area that attracts many global businesses. Major employers in the Frederick area include military contractors, Leidos Biomed, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Cost of living
40.2 percent above national average
Median home price
$284,000.
Average rent
$1,426
Average apartment size
929 square feet

Gaithersburg

Closer to Washington, D.C. still is Gaithersburg. This city, with approximately 68,000 residents has seen the population grow in recent years. It has risen to third in population after being fourth before 2010. This small city is home to several major employers in the Gaithersburg area include the National Institutes of Health, Marriott International, Lockheed Martin, and Adventist Health Care.

Cost of living
40.2 percent above national average.
Median home price
$372,400.
Average rent
$1,686
Average apartment size
916 square feet

Moving to Maryland Resources

All Maryland Cities