Most Dangerous & Safest Counties in Maryland

Maryland has 18 counties with crime data. The county with the highest homicide rate is Baltimore city at 45.5 per 100K , while the safest is Carroll County at 1.5 per 100K .

5 of 18 counties (28%) have a homicide rate above the national average of 8 per 100K. All rates are per 100,000 residents and come from County Health Rankings, which compiles data from the CDC, FBI, and other federal sources.

Metric

Most Dangerous Counties in Maryland

Top 10 counties ranked by homicide rate.

# County Homicides
1 Baltimore city 45.5 per 100K +468.6%
2 Prince George's County 12.8 per 100K +60.0%
3 Dorchester County 10.2 per 100K +27.5%
4 Baltimore County 10.0 per 100K +25.4%
5 Charles County 8.1 per 100K +1.5%
6 Wicomico County 5.5 per 100K -31.0%
7 Cecil County 5.0 per 100K -37.7%
8 Washington County 5.0 per 100K -37.7%
9 Harford County 4.6 per 100K -42.3%
10 Anne Arundel County 4.6 per 100K -42.8%

Safest Counties in Maryland

Bottom 10 counties ranked by homicide rate.

# County Homicides
18 Carroll County 1.5 per 100K -81.1%
17 Calvert County 1.7 per 100K -78.8%
16 Frederick County 2.3 per 100K -71.6%
15 Montgomery County 2.6 per 100K -67.1%
14 Queen Anne's County 2.9 per 100K -63.7%
13 Allegany County 3.1 per 100K -61.7%
12 Howard County 3.1 per 100K -60.6%
11 St. Mary's County 3.4 per 100K -57.6%
10 Anne Arundel County 4.6 per 100K -42.8%
9 Harford County 4.6 per 100K -42.3%

All 18 Counties Ranked

Every county in Maryland ranked by homicide rate. Click any county for its full profile.

# County Homicides
1 Baltimore city 45.5 per 100K +468.6%
2 Prince George's County 12.8 per 100K +60.0%
3 Dorchester County 10.2 per 100K +27.5%
4 Baltimore County 10.0 per 100K +25.4%
5 Charles County 8.1 per 100K +1.5%
6 Wicomico County 5.5 per 100K -31.0%
7 Cecil County 5.0 per 100K -37.7%
8 Washington County 5.0 per 100K -37.7%
9 Harford County 4.6 per 100K -42.3%
10 Anne Arundel County 4.6 per 100K -42.8%
11 St. Mary's County 3.4 per 100K -57.6%
12 Howard County 3.1 per 100K -60.6%
13 Allegany County 3.1 per 100K -61.7%
14 Queen Anne's County 2.9 per 100K -63.7%
15 Montgomery County 2.6 per 100K -67.1%
16 Frederick County 2.3 per 100K -71.6%
17 Calvert County 1.7 per 100K -78.8%
18 Carroll County 1.5 per 100K -81.1%

About This Data

All figures are estimates from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CDC, FBI, NCHS), published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Values are subject to sampling variability and margin of error.

Rankings are within Maryland only and may differ from national rankings. For more information, see our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most dangerous county in Maryland?
The county with the highest homicide rate in Maryland is Baltimore city, at 45.5 per 100,000 residents. This is 469% above the national rate of 8 per 100K.
What is the safest county in Maryland?
The county with the lowest homicide rate in Maryland is Carroll County, at 1.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Maryland's crime rate compare to the national average?
5 of 18 counties in Maryland (28%) have a homicide rate above the national average of 8 per 100,000 residents.
Which county in Maryland has the most firearm fatalities?
Baltimore city has the highest firearm fatality rate in Maryland at 44.9 per 100,000 residents.
Which county in Maryland has the most drug overdose deaths?
Baltimore city has the highest drug overdose death rate in Maryland at 144.1 per 100,000 residents.