The Town FilesSt. James, Maryland
Community in Washington County · population 4,757 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $409,000
- Household income
- $97,361
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.9
St. James is a community of 4,757 people in Washington County, Maryland. The median home is worth $409,000, close to the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 94% of Maryland towns, better for families than 85% of Maryland towns.
How St. James 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 St. James is worth $409,000, close to the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $97,361, which is more affordable than 34% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,289 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. James | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $409,000 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,289 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $97,361 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in St. James
| People | St. James | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 37.6 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 94.3% |
Weather in St. James
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.0 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4374: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 64,206 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,252 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in St. James itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near St. James
- Halfway, MD3.1 mi · 11,896 people · home $253,300
- Hagerstown, MD4.6 mi · 43,527 people · home $224,500
- Robinwood, MD5.8 mi · 7,397 people · home $341,300
- Boonsboro, MD6.6 mi · 3,799 people · home $352,400
- Paramount-Long Meadow, MD7.9 mi · 2,658 people · home $374,200
- Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD8.0 mi · 6,189 people · home $333,000
- Maugansville, MD8.3 mi · 3,669 people · home $321,800
- Smithsburg, MD10.6 mi · 2,977 people · home $337,500
St. James questions
Is St. James, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. James scores better for retirees than 54% of Maryland towns and quieter than 56%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in St. James?
The median owner-occupied home in St. James is valued at $409,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,361, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,289 a month.
What is the weather like in St. James?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.0 inches of snow.
Does St. James get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. 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)