City · 6,903 residents · Worcester County, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
In Ocean City, a typical home is worth $429,000 and typical rent is $1,353 a month. Compared with all of Worcester County, typical rent is 17% higher and the typical home value is 14% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $381,321 to $444,560.
Typical rent
$1,658a month
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Ocean City is in Worcester County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Worcester County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Fruitland, the typical home value is $227,200: 47% less than in Ocean City ($429,000).
2
Nearby, in Berlin, the typical rent is $1,091: 19% less than in Ocean City ($1,353).
3
The typical rent in Ocean City is $1,353 a month, 17% more than in Worcester County as a whole ($1,159).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Ocean City
What homes there are in Ocean City, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Kind of home: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Detached house
11%
43%
51%
61%
Attached house
11%
9%
21%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
4%
4%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
69%
39%
23%
19%
Mobile home
3%
5%
1%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Ocean City, the apartment is the most common kind of home: 69%, against 39% in Worcester County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Year built: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Before 1960
4%
9%
26%
26%
1960–1979
39%
28%
25%
24%
1980–1999
45%
42%
28%
25%
2000–2009
11%
16%
12%
14%
2010 or later
2%
5%
9%
11%
In Ocean City, half of the homes were built before 1982; in Worcester County, before 1985.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K20%
$300K–$500K33%
$500K–$750K18%
$750K–$1M11%
$1M or more9%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
20%
$300K–$500K
33%
$500K–$750K
18%
$750K–$1M
11%
$1M or more
9%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99930%
$1,000–$1,49935%
$1,500–$1,99925%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Under $500
Unreliable
$500–$999
30%
$1,000–$1,499
35%
$1,500–$1,999
25%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,053 a month
Worcester County: $1,948 a month
Without a mortgage
$850 a month
Worcester County: $691 a month
Owners with a mortgage
55%
Worcester County: 58%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Ocean City is $2,053 a month, more than in Worcester County ($1,948); without one, $850.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Ocean City+44%
Worcester County+43%
Maryland+33%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Ocean City+30%
Worcester County+12%
Maryland+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Ocean City+44%
Worcester County+29%
Maryland+22%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Typical home value
+44%
+43%
+33%
+53%
Typical rent
+30%
+12%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
+44%
+29%
+22%
+29%
Much as in Worcester County, the typical home value in Ocean City rose 44% since 2015–2019.
Rents in Ocean City rose faster than in Worcester County: 30% since 2015–2019, against 12%.
To compare: typical income in Ocean City rose 44%; the home, +44%; the rent, +30%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Ocean City and its comparisons
Measure
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
United States
Rental vacancy
31.2%
10.9%
4.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.0%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.2%
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
1.77
2.19
2.57
2.53
Drive alone
66%
76%
65%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4%
3%
Walk or bike
9%
3%
2%
3%
Work from home
17%
12%
19%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
The rental vacancy rate in Ocean City is 31.2%, higher than in Worcester County (10.9%).
On average, a household in Ocean City has 1.77 people, fewer than in Worcester County (2.19).
In Ocean City, 9% of workers walk or bike to work; in Worcester County, 3%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Ocean City?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Ocean City, worth $429,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 55% of the typical household income in Ocean City, which is $77,750 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $152,337 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Worcester County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Ocean City. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $15,015 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,555
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$421,230
Total interest
$606,051
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $7,245 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,814 a month
Tight
$1,814 to $2,333 a month
Hard
more than $2,333 a month
Your payment · 55%
Compared with the typical household income in Ocean City ($77,750 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,854
Property tax
$333
Home insurance
$179
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$190
You need at least $15,015 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,555; principal and interest $2,854.
The city and its county
Ocean City and Worcester County
Ocean City is in Worcester County, Maryland. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Map of Worcester County, Maryland, with Ocean City marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Worcester County
Ocean City's own numbers
Typical home value
$429,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,353
Typical yearly household income
$77,750
Households that own their home
74%
Effective property tax rate
0.93%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Worcester County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,184
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
13%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Worcester County.
A typical home in Ocean City is worth $429,000: 14% above the county and 2% above Maryland. With the typical household income in Ocean City ($77,750 a year), a typical home costs 5.5 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Ocean City5.5 years
Worcester4.6 years
Maryland4.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Worcester County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Worcester County rose 95% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Worcester County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Worcester County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.5% +2.5% 2016
2017: +3.8% +3.8% 2017
2018: +3.6% +3.6% 2018
2019: +6.0% +6.0% 2019
2020: +2.9% +2.9% 2020
2021: +13.9% +13.9% 2021
2022: +16.3% +16.3% 2022
2023: +15.2% +15.2% 2023
2024: +3.7% +3.7% 2024
2025: +2.6% +2.6% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Worcester County, Maryland and the United States
Period
County
Maryland
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.6%
+2.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+62%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+95%
+60%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Ocean City next to Worcester County, Maryland and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Ocean City$429,000
Worcester$374,700
Maryland$419,900
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Ocean City$1,353
Worcester$1,159
Maryland$1,705
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Ocean City$77,750
Worcester$81,745
Maryland$103,678
United States$80,734
See the full table
Ocean City next to Worcester County and Maryland
Measure
Ocean City
Worcester County
Maryland
U.S.
Typical home value
$429,000 ▲14% above the county
$374,700
$419,900
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,353 ▲17% above the county
$1,159
$1,705
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$77,750 ▼5% below the county
$81,745
$103,678
$80,734
Households that own their home
74% ▼4 points below the county
78%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,997 ▲46% above the county
$2,738
$4,093
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.93% ▲0.2 points above the county
0.73%
0.97%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
62% ▲6 points above the county
55%
51%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Worcester County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Ocean City
For a typical $429,000 home in Ocean City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Ocean City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,555a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$15,015
Cash to close
$27,885
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $190
Conventional, 5% down$3,476a month
Down payment
$21,450
Cash to close
$34,320
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $204
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,836a month
Down payment
$85,800
Cash to close
$98,670
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,233a month
Down payment
$64,350
Cash to close
$77,220
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Ocean City
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,555
$15,015
$421,230
7.18%
FHA MIP · $190
$27,885
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,476
$21,450
$407,550
7.18%
PMI · $204
$34,320
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,836
$85,800
$343,200
7.18%
None
$98,670
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,233
$64,350
$364,650
8.18%
None
$77,220
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Ocean City and for Worcester County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Ocean City
0.93%of the home’s value each year
$3,997 a year for the typical owner in Ocean City.
Ocean City0.93%
Worcester0.73%
Maryland0.97%
What Maryland publishesHomestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))
Typical rent in Ocean City is $1,353 a month: 17% above the county. In Ocean City, 62% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Worcester County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,184 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.77 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Worcester County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$990
$19.04
$39,600
1 bedroom
$995
$19.13
$39,800
2 bedrooms
$1,184
$22.77
$47,360
3 bedrooms
$1,639
$31.52
$65,560
4 bedrooms
$1,979
$38.06
$79,160
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Ocean City
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Ocean City is in ZIP code 21842.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,240: $56 more than the fair market rent for Worcester County ($1,184).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Ocean City, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
21842
$1,040
$1,040
$1,240
$1,720
$2,070
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
21842 $1,240$1,720
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Ocean City when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Worcester County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Ocean City or Worcester County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Ocean City the same as in the rest of the state.
Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan.Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).
Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan.Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).
Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home.Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).
No legal help resource on our list is for Ocean City or Worcester County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Ocean City and all of Worcester County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Ocean City?
The typical home value in Ocean City is $429,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Worcester County it is $374,700.
How much does it cost to rent in Ocean City?
Typical rent in Ocean City is $1,353 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Worcester County is $1,184.
What is the FHA loan limit in Ocean City?
Ocean City uses the FHA limit for all of Worcester County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Ocean City?
The typical homeowner in Ocean City pays $3,997 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.93% of the home’s value; in Worcester County, the rate is 0.73%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Ocean City?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Worcester County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
