Median Income
$85,378
household / year
Median Home Value
$221,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,158
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

Is North East, MD a Good Place to Live?

North East is a small town of 4,061 in Maryland, with a median household income of $85,378 and a 4.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: North East stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether North East is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All North East city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.5

North East's overall cost of living index is 103.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in North East costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric North East, MD National Avg
Median Home Value $221,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,158 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 57.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $85,378 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

North East's violent crime rate is 477.4 per 100,000 residents — 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
477.4 /100k
Property Crime
1909.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

North East is served primarily by Cecil County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric North East, MD National Avg
School District Cecil County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 17 —
Middle Schools 6 —
High Schools 6 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

North East sees average highs of 42.5°F in January and 88.6°F in July, with 48.6 inches of annual precipitation and 18.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricNorth East, MD
Average High — January42.5°F
Average High — July88.6°F
Annual Precipitation48.6"
Annual Snowfall18.1"

Demographics

MetricNorth East, MDNational Avg
Population4,061—
Median Age35.838.9
Unemployment Rate4.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)80.2%59.3%
Black or African American12.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.5%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1826.5%22.2%
65 and over9.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Charlestown, MD 3 mi Elkton, MD 6 mi Perryville, MD 7 mi Port Deposit, MD 8 mi Chesapeake City, MD 9 mi

ZIP Codes in North East

North East, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

21901

North East vs Other Cities

North East, MD vs Charlestown, MD North East, MD vs Elkton, MD North East, MD vs Perryville, MD North East, MD vs Port Deposit, MD North East, MD vs Chesapeake City, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

North East's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts North East roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $221,900 and median rent is $1,158/month.
North East's violent crime rate is 477.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1909.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North East are operated by Cecil County Public Schools. The district has 17 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 33.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North East, MD has a population of 4,061, a median household income of $85,378, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
North East averages 42.5°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.6 inches with about 18.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North East, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 21901.
The population of North East, Maryland is 4,061 with a median age of 35.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North East: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $221,900, median household income $85,378, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North East side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.