Population 8,244 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocean City
Household size in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.92 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.82 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Ocean City are small: just 1.82 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 1.92 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Ocean City has the smallest households of any Maryland city with 5,000+ people.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.8 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.6 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Ocean City skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has dropped from 55.8 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only six are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Ocean City, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ocean City
Renters in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.2% of households in Ocean City rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (43.1%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the east. The renter share has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 78.0% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 74.9% of the housing in Ocean City, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. No other Maryland city with 5,000+ people has a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Ocean City are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $947 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,038 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,072 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,366 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$419 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ocean City costs $1,366 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $419 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 36.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ocean City
Bachelor's degrees in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.0% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.1% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.4% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Ocean City than nationally: 45.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.4 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.3% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ocean City: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ocean City
| Period | Ocean City | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Ocean City is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Maryland overall (5.0%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ocean City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean City | 1.82 | 49.6 | 6.8% | 24.2% | 74.9% | 1985 | $1,366 | 45.4% | 95.2% | 5.9% |
| West Ocean City | 2.42 | 49.1 | 6.9% | 24.0% | 27.4% | 1997 | $1,599 | 36.6% | 92.9% | 9.9% |
| Ocean Pines | 2.14 | 60.8 | 6.8% | 9.6% | 32.7% | 1992 | $1,913 | 39.9% | 96.2% | 5.9% |
| Fenwick Island | 2.12 | 69.1 | 0.4% | 8.6% | 80.1% | 1986 | $1,385 | 56.6% | 88.1% | 3.2% |
| Selbyville | 2.22 | 58.0 | 6.2% | 10.8% | 31.0% | 2000 | $1,126 | 36.5% | 91.3% | 5.6% |
| Bishopville | 2.31 | 52.1 | 5.1% | 20.8% | 17.7% | 1992 | $1,125 | 27.8% | 92.3% | 3.7% |
| Snug Harbor | 2.05 | 58.4 | 5.4% | 3.6% | 45.0% | 1996 | $1,402 | 30.7% | 95.0% | 7.2% |
| Grays Corner | 2.58 | 50.6 | 4.6% | 30.1% | 15.7% | 1995 | $2,057 | 51.5% | 89.2% | 2.0% |
| Showell | 2.24 | 53.2 | 3.9% | 7.1% | 26.9% | 1989 | $1,513 | 36.7% | 89.3% | 0.3% |
| Berlin | 2.51 | 44.8 | 16.0% | 27.2% | 17.0% | 1989 | $1,232 | 37.1% | 92.2% | 6.0% |
| Golf Club Shores | 2.36 | 53.4 | 2.8% | 5.5% | 33.5% | 2000 | $1,537 | 62.4% | 97.5% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pine City, MN · Port Jefferson, NY · Plymouth, NH · Plumas Lake, CA · Plaistow, NH · Pittstown, NJ · Pittsboro, IN · Pinon Hills, CA · Pinehurst, MA · Port Matilda, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ocean City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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