2026 Anne Arundel County Homebuyer Guide
How much does it cost to live in Anne Arundel County?
The answer depends on your specific home, property taxes, utilities and commuting needs. This guide explains the most important expenses for buyers and renters in Odenton, Crofton, Gambrills, Millersville and nearby communities.
Quick answer: Compare total monthly ownership costs, not just asking prices. Historical countywide statistics are useful for context, but actual budgets require current home prices, loan terms, taxes, insurance and property-specific expenses.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts and county tax rates. Census figures are historical, not current asking prices.
Housing costs: look beyond the purchase price
The county includes condos, townhouses, detached homes and waterfront properties, with very different prices and upkeep requirements. The Census median home value is based on 2020-2024 estimates and should not be mistaken for a 2026 market median. For a current starting point, compare homes for sale and review the October 2026 inventory snapshot, which reports asking prices rather than sold prices.
Buyers should calculate principal and interest, taxes, homeowners insurance, possible mortgage insurance, association dues, utilities and a maintenance reserve. Condo fees sometimes include services that detached-home owners pay separately. Obtain the actual association documents before deciding which property is more affordable.
What are Anne Arundel County property taxes in 2026?
For fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), the county's published combined rate outside Annapolis and Highland Beach is $1.080 per $100 of assessment ($0.968 county plus $0.112 state). The published combined rate is $1.427 within the City of Annapolis ($0.577 county, $0.112 state, $0.738 city) and $1.4148 in Highland Beach ($0.938 county, $0.112 state, $0.3648 town). Check the property's actual jurisdiction before estimating its tax bill.
Example: A property with a $500,000 taxable assessment in the unincorporated county would have approximately $5,400 in annual combined county and state real property tax, or $450 per month, before credits and other bill items such as solid waste, stormwater or Bay Restoration charges. For an owner-occupied principal residence, the Homestead Tax Credit limits annual increases in the taxable assessment used for county taxes to 2% (10% for City of Annapolis taxes). Taxable assessment is not necessarily the purchase price. See official FY2027 rates and Maryland's homeowner property tax guide.
Utilities and ongoing home expenses
Water and wastewater service varies by property. County public utility rates effective July 1, 2026 list $3.98 per 1,000 gallons for water and $7.00 per 1,000 gallons for wastewater. A $6.00 account maintenance charge applies each billing cycle, a new meter-based Utility Investment Fee begins with the second FY2027 billing cycle, and Bay Restoration and other fees may apply, so multiplying usage by those two rates does not produce the complete bill. Confirm whether the home has public water and sewer, a private well, or septic service. Request recent bills for electricity, heating, water and wastewater.
Review the official utility rate schedule and budget for maintenance, appliances, landscaping and potential association assessments.
Groceries, transportation and commuting
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average household spending of $95,762 per year across the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metropolitan area in 2023-2024. Housing accounted for 30.7% of expenditures, transportation 16.9% and food 14.2%. This metropolitan area includes multiple counties, so these figures are not Anne Arundel County-specific prices or a recommended budget.
Transportation costs vary with commute distance, vehicle needs, parking and tolls. Odenton has a station on the MARC Penn Line, connecting the Baltimore and Washington corridors. Check train schedules, station access and actual door-to-door travel times before relying on rail for your commute.
Comparing communities
Odenton offers a mix of housing types and access to MARC and Fort Meade. Crofton has established neighborhoods and a range of property types. Gambrills offers both planned communities and homes on larger lots. Millersville has a variety of home ages and locations. Compare actual properties rather than assuming any community is uniformly more or less expensive.
For Annapolis-specific considerations, including city taxes and waterfront-related costs, read our existing Annapolis cost-of-living guide.
Schools and childcare
School assignment depends on the exact address and can change. Confirm it with Anne Arundel County Public Schools or the county's school service area map, rather than relying on listing descriptions. Get direct quotes for childcare and before- or after-school programs.
Monthly budget checklist
- Mortgage or rent, based on current quotes
- Property tax and homeowners or renters insurance
- HOA or condo dues, including any special assessments
- Electricity, heating, water, wastewater and internet
- Transportation, parking and commuting costs
- Groceries, childcare, healthcare and household spending
- Maintenance reserves and one-time moving expenses
Homebuyers should also plan for a down payment and settlement expenses. Review our Maryland closing costs guide and home buying process.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anne Arundel County expensive?
It depends on the home and household. Housing and transportation can be significant expenses, so compare current properties and your own commute rather than using a generic cost-of-living score.
Is renting cheaper than buying?
That depends on actual rents, mortgage terms, expected length of stay, maintenance and other costs. Historical median rent is not directly comparable to a current mortgage quote.
How should Fort Meade commuters compare communities?
Test your actual route at your usual commute times and compare total ownership costs for specific properties. Odenton, Crofton, Gambrills and Millersville each have a range of housing options.
For sellers: what do these town figures mean for my home’s value?
They show what sold in each ZIP code in a single month, compared with the same month a year earlier. Your home’s value depends on its own location, size, condition and features, so a pricing review based on recent comparable sales in your neighborhood is the better guide.
Town-by-town housing costs
Housing costs differ within the county. The first table shows September 2026 Bright MLS sales by ZIP code, compared with September 2025. The second gives Census background figures, which are multi-year survey estimates rather than current prices.
| Community (ZIP) | Median sale price, Sept. 2026 | Median sale price, Sept. 2025 | Change | Closed sales, Sept. 2026 vs. Sept. 2025 | Closed sales, last 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odenton (21113) | $467,500 | $448,000 | up 4.4% | 36 vs. 37 down 1 | 469 |
| Gambrills (21054) | $475,000 | $595,000 | down 20.2% | 15 vs. 18 down 3 | 171 |
| Crofton (21114) | $455,000 | $490,000 | down 7.1% | 25 vs. 27 down 2 | 311 |
| Severn (21144) | $540,000 | $512,500 | up 5.4% | 32 vs. 40 down 8 | 373 |
| Millersville (21108) | $529,990 | $509,990 | up 3.9% | 22 vs. 15 up 7 | 232 |
| Crownsville (21032) | $851,944 | $557,500 | up 52.8% | 10 vs. 10 no change | 113 |
| Davidsonville (21035) | $1,125,000 | $812,450 | up 38.5% | 8 vs. 6 up 2 | 94 |
For sellers: Comparing September 2026 with September 2025, median sale prices were higher in Odenton, Severn, Millersville, Crownsville and Davidsonville and lower in Gambrills and Crofton. Closed sales were down in four of the seven ZIP codes, up in Millersville and Davidsonville, and unchanged in Crownsville. A single month’s median reflects the homes that happened to sell, so your home’s value depends on its own location, condition and features.
| Community (ZIP) | Median home value | Median monthly owner costs with a mortgage | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odenton (21113) | $432,000 | $2,461 | $125,639 |
| Gambrills (21054) | $611,000 | $3,271 | $163,825 |
| Crofton (21114) | $490,400 | $2,440 | $141,344 |
| Severn (21144) | $483,700 | $2,602 | $136,684 |
| Millersville (21108) | $555,000 | $2,651 | $151,324 |
| Crownsville (21032) | $682,100 | $2,986 | $168,653 |
| Davidsonville (21035) | $831,500 | $3,758 | $188,347 |
Source: Bright MLS (September 2026 and September 2025 by ZIP code, and closed sales for October 2025 through September 2026, all residential home types). Census background: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates by ZIP Code Tabulation Area (tables B19013, B25077, B25088): View official source. Monthly ZIP samples are small (as few as 8 sales), so one or two sales can move a median sharply; Crownsville and Davidsonville sales in September 2026 were all detached homes. ZIP codes do not match community boundaries exactly.
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Sources and date: Census QuickFacts 2020-2024; Anne Arundel County FY2027 tax and July 2026 utility rates; BLS Baltimore metropolitan consumer expenditures 2023-2024, published January 2026; Maryland Transit Administration MARC station information. Reviewed October 2026. Rates, listings and school assignments may change.