What are the schools like in Ridgely, MD?

Ridgely is served primarily by Caroline County Public Schools. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Ridgely?

The median household income in Ridgely, MD is $65,060 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Ridgely, MD?

Ridgely has an average high temperature of 43.6°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.8 inches.

Ridgely, MD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ridgely, MD affordable or expensive?

Ridgely's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ridgely is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $227,300 and the median rent is $1,168 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ridgely, MD?

Ridgely has a violent crime rate of 80.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 571.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ridgely, MD a Good Place to Live?

Ridgely is a small town of 1,727 in Maryland, with a median household income of $65,060 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ridgely is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ridgely 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: 99.1

Ridgely's overall cost of living index is 99.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ridgely costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ridgely, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$227,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,168	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,060	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ridgely's violent crime rate is 80.8 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

80.8 /100k

Property Crime

571.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ridgely is served primarily by Caroline County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ridgely, MD	National Avg
School District	Caroline County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ridgely sees average highs of 43.6°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 50.0 inches of annual precipitation and 12.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ridgely, MD
Average High — January	43.6°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	50.0"
Annual Snowfall	12.8"

Demographics

Metric	Ridgely, MD	National Avg
Population	1,727	—
Median Age	38.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	13.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	28.5%	22.2%
65 and over	12.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hillsboro, MD 4 mi Greensboro, MD 4 mi Queen Anne, MD 4 mi West Denton, MD 5 mi Denton, MD 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Ridgely

Ridgely, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

21660

Ridgely vs Other Cities

Ridgely, MD vs Hillsboro, MD Ridgely, MD vs Greensboro, MD Ridgely, MD vs Queen Anne, MD Ridgely, MD vs West Denton, MD Ridgely, MD vs Denton, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ridgely, MD affordable or expensive?

Ridgely's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ridgely roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $227,300 and median rent is $1,168/month.

What is the crime rate in Ridgely, MD?

Ridgely's violent crime rate is 80.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 571.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ridgely?

Public schools in Ridgely are operated by Caroline County Public Schools. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ridgely, MD a good place to live?

Ridgely, MD has a population of 1,727, a median household income of $65,060, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ridgely?

Ridgely averages 43.6°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.0 inches with about 12.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ridgely?

Ridgely, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 21660.

What is the population of Ridgely?

The population of Ridgely, Maryland is 1,727 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ridgely?

Key numbers for living in Ridgely: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $227,300, median household income $65,060, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ridgely side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.