The Town FilesWestminster, Maryland
City in Carroll County · population 20,126 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $337,600
- Household income
- $86,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.5
Westminster is a city of 20,126 people in Carroll County, Maryland. The median home is worth $337,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 76% of Maryland towns.
How Westminster 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 Westminster is worth $337,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $86,219, which is more affordable than 45% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,476 a month. 56.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westminster | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,600 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,476 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $86,219 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.5% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Westminster
| People | Westminster | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 94.3% |
Weather in Westminster
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westminster since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 19, 1996 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 19 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 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 10, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4170: Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 59,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,405 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Westminster itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Westminster
18 public schools with 8,542 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster High | 9-12 | 1,480 | 17.0 |
| Winters Mill High | 9-12 | 1,142 | 17.0 |
| Westminster West Middle | 6-8 | 912 | 16.3 |
| Westminster East Middle | 6-8 | 800 | 14.3 |
| Winfield Elementary | PK-5 | 697 | 12.7 |
| Runnymede Elementary | PK-5 | 609 | 13.5 |
| William Winchester Elementary | PK-5 | 605 | 14.8 |
| Cranberry Station Elementary | PK-5 | 601 | 14.0 |
| Westminster Elementary | PK-5 | 555 | 13.2 |
| Friendship Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 499 | 13.1 |
| Robert Moton Elementary | PK-5 | 441 | 9.0 |
| Gateway School | 9-12 | 81 | 4.5 |
Towns near Westminster
- Manchester, MD8.2 mi · 5,408 people · home $376,400
- Hampstead, MD8.4 mi · 6,241 people · home $333,000
- Taneytown, MD10.2 mi · 7,234 people · home $338,400
- Germany, PA12.0 mi · 2,844 people · home $338,600
- West Manheim, PA12.2 mi · 9,072 people · home $299,700
- Littlestown, PA12.2 mi · 4,782 people · home $254,700
- Union, PA12.4 mi · 3,076 people · home $334,700
- Eldersburg, MD12.4 mi · 32,582 people · home $494,300
Westminster questions
Is Westminster, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westminster scores better for retirees than 54% of Maryland towns and quieter than 45%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Westminster?
The median owner-occupied home in Westminster is valued at $337,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,219, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,476 a month.
What is the weather like in Westminster?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Westminster get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westminster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 19, 1996. 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)