The Town FilesSalisbury, Maryland
City in Wicomico County · population 33,050 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,300
- Household income
- $58,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 30.1
Salisbury is a city of 33,050 people in Wicomico County, Maryland. The median home is worth $227,300, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 82% of Maryland towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Maryland towns.
How Salisbury ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salisbury is worth $227,300, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $58,576, which is more affordable than 45% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,318 a month. 27.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salisbury | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,300 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,318 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $58,576 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 27.1% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Salisbury
| People | Salisbury | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 94.3% |
Weather in Salisbury
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.0 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 7, 2017 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Wicomico County since 1996
Wicomico County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3349: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Wicomico County
Wicomico County had 46,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,568 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Salisbury itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Salisbury
15 public schools with 10,326 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| James M. Bennett High | 9-12 | 1,379 | 14.4 |
| Wicomico High | 9-12 | 1,307 | 14.1 |
| Parkside High | 9-12 | 1,223 | 11.4 |
| Prince Street School | PK-5 | 878 | 15.1 |
| Salisbury Middle | 6-8 | 869 | 9.8 |
| Wicomico Middle | 6-8 | 796 | 11.1 |
| Beaver Run School | PK-2 | 713 | 14.6 |
| Pinehurst Elementary | PK-5 | 542 | 12.3 |
| North Salisbury Elementary | 3-5 | 520 | 12.1 |
| Pemberton Elementary | PK-5 | 503 | 12.3 |
| East Salisbury Elementary | 3-5 | 480 | 12.6 |
| West Salisbury | PK-2 | 389 | 13.9 |
Towns near Salisbury
- Fruitland, MD4.4 mi · 5,534 people · home $227,200
- Delmar, MD4.8 mi · 3,798 people · home $226,500
- Princess Anne, MD13.2 mi · 3,446 people · home $231,900
- Laurel, DE13.6 mi · 3,865 people · home $230,300
- Seaford, DE19.5 mi · 7,957 people · home $224,300
- Berlin, MD20.3 mi · 5,026 people · home $423,500
- Millsboro, DE21.0 mi · 6,863 people · home $332,600
- Selbyville, DE21.5 mi · 2,878 people · home $432,900
Salisbury questions
Is Salisbury, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salisbury scores better for retirees than 21% of Maryland towns and quieter than 18%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.1).
How much does a house cost in Salisbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Salisbury is valued at $227,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,576, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,318 a month.
What is the weather like in Salisbury?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Salisbury get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 7, 2017. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)