The Town FilesTowson, Maryland
Community in Baltimore County · population 59,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $469,000
- Household income
- $101,320
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 33.6
Towson is a community of 59,553 people in Baltimore County, Maryland. The median home is worth $469,000, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 96% of Maryland towns, hipper than 92% of Maryland towns.
How Towson 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 Towson is worth $469,000, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $101,320, which is more affordable than 22% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,764 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Towson | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $469,000 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,764 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $101,320 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Towson
| People | Towson | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.3% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 94.3% |
Weather in Towson
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.1 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Towson since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 16, 1973 about 4.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 18, 1970.
Severe weather in Baltimore County since 1996
Baltimore County has been included in 24 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 |
| July 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4376: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Baltimore County
Baltimore County had 374,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,051 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Towson itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Towson
13 public schools with 3,693 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towson High | 9-12 | 1,650 | 17.9 |
| George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology | 9-12 | 1,015 | 16.4 |
| Pleasant Plains Elementary | PK-5 | 521 | 15.8 |
| Riderwood Elementary | K-5 | 392 | 14.0 |
| BCDC Educational Center | 9-12 | 52 | — |
| Home Assignments-Secondary | 7-12 | 43 | 2.9 |
| Southeast EDLP at Dundalk High School | 12-12 | 10 | — |
| Northeast EDLP at Parkville High School | 10-12 | 7 | — |
| Southwest EDLP at Woodlawn High School | 10-10 | 1 | — |
| Home Assignments-Elementary | 4-4 | 1 | — |
| Northwest EDLP at Milford Mill Academy | 12-12 | 1 | — |
| Central EDLP at Loch Raven High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Towson
- Lutherville, MD2.1 mi · 6,835 people · home $443,900
- Hampton, MD3.5 mi · 5,180 people · home $615,300
- Parkville, MD3.6 mi · 31,812 people · home $260,400
- Timonium, MD3.7 mi · 10,458 people · home $480,800
- Mays Chapel, MD4.0 mi · 12,224 people · home $464,800
- Pikesville, MD4.4 mi · 34,168 people · home $434,500
- Carney, MD5.1 mi · 29,363 people · home $319,700
- Overlea, MD5.7 mi · 12,832 people · home $263,900
Towson questions
Is Towson, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Towson scores better for retirees than 50% of Maryland towns and quieter than 13%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Towson?
The median owner-occupied home in Towson is valued at $469,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,320, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,764 a month.
What is the weather like in Towson?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 26.1 inches of snow.
Does Towson get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Towson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 16, 1973. 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)