County facts · Population growth · October 24, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Maryland, 2020 to 2025
Maryland's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Maryland? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Maryland went from about 6,181,640 to 6,265,347 residents, a change of +83,707 (+1.4%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Frederick County (+11.5%), and it also added the most people (+31,173).
Baltimore City is an independent city that the Census Bureau counts as a county equivalent, so it is ranked alongside the counties.
Every row below links to the county's Platbookmapper page and straight to its official parcel viewer, handy if growth is why you are looking at land there.
Maryland growth at a glance
- Counties and county equivalents: 24
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +83,707 residents (+1.4%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +20,033 (+0.3%)
- Grew: 20 of 24 · Lost residents: 4
- Fastest growing by percent: Frederick County (+11.5%); most people added: Frederick County (+31,173)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 11 of 24
The 10 fastest growing Maryland counties by percent
| # | County or city | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederick County | 271,710 | 302,883 | +31,173 | +11.5% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 2 | Queen Anne's County | 49,881 | 54,448 | +4,567 | +9.2% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 3 | Charles County | 166,609 | 176,593 | +9,984 | +6.0% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 4 | Worcester County | 52,464 | 54,459 | +1,995 | +3.8% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 5 | Dorchester County | 32,522 | 33,628 | +1,106 | +3.4% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 6 | Cecil County | 103,721 | 107,131 | +3,410 | +3.3% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 7 | Wicomico County | 103,596 | 106,899 | +3,303 | +3.2% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 8 | St. Mary's County | 113,772 | 116,692 | +2,920 | +2.6% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 9 | Caroline County | 33,296 | 34,116 | +820 | +2.5% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 10 | Carroll County | 172,886 | 176,677 | +3,791 | +2.2% | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
These 10 added about 63,069 people combined. The median county changed by +2.0%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County or city | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederick County | +31,173 | +11.5% | 302,883 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 2 | Montgomery County | +12,503 | +1.2% | 1,074,582 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 3 | Anne Arundel County | +10,735 | +1.8% | 603,380 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 4 | Charles County | +9,984 | +6.0% | 176,593 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 5 | Howard County | +6,872 | +2.1% | 339,183 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 6 | Harford County | +5,513 | +2.1% | 266,446 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 7 | Queen Anne's County | +4,567 | +9.2% | 54,448 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 8 | Carroll County | +3,791 | +2.2% | 176,677 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 9 | Cecil County | +3,410 | +3.3% | 107,131 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
| 10 | Wicomico County | +3,303 | +3.2% | 106,899 | Maryland FINDER Online (MD Dept. of Planning) |
The top 10 account for about 85% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County or city | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick County | +5,274 | +20,700 | +5,278 | +31,173 |
| Queen Anne's County | +135 | +3,686 | +710 | +4,567 |
| Charles County | +1,742 | +6,449 | +1,843 | +9,984 |
| Worcester County | −1,638 | +3,201 | +471 | +1,995 |
| Dorchester County | −474 | +1,431 | +124 | +1,106 |
In all 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Queen Anne's County: +1.4% (+767)
- Frederick County: +1.3% (+4,028)
- Dorchester County: +1.3% (+420)
- Charles County: +1.2% (+2,094)
- Somerset County: +0.9% (+220)
4 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
4 of Maryland's 24 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. They are:
- Baltimore City: −2.7% (−15,732, now about 569,997)
- Allegany County: −1.9% (−1,262, now about 66,848)
- Garrett County: −1.5% (−436, now about 28,370)
- Baltimore County: −0.8% (−6,863, now about 847,650)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Maryland
- Maryland county GIS websites by viewer
- Maryland plat maps
- Maryland landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Maryland counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 24, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.