The Town FilesArbutus, Maryland
Community in Baltimore County · population 21,655 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,600
- Household income
- $99,090
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 33.9
Arbutus is a community of 21,655 people in Baltimore County, Maryland. The median home is worth $322,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Maryland towns, more of a college town than 91% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 89% of Maryland towns.
How Arbutus 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 Arbutus is worth $322,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $99,090, which is more affordable than 77% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,318 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arbutus | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,600 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,318 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $99,090 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Arbutus
| People | Arbutus | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 94.3% |
Weather in Arbutus
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 19.3 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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arbutus since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1961 about 4.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 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 Arbutus itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Arbutus
1 public school with 281 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halethorpe Elementary | PK-5 | 281 | 11.2 |
Towns near Arbutus
- Lansdowne, MD1.6 mi · 9,004 people · home $214,000
- Linthicum, MD2.7 mi · 11,190 people · home $401,600
- Baltimore Highlands, MD3.0 mi · 7,740 people · home $267,200
- Catonsville, MD3.0 mi · 44,701 people · home $416,900
- Brooklyn Park, MD4.1 mi · 16,112 people · home $284,300
- Ilchester, MD4.2 mi · 26,824 people · home $532,400
- Elkridge, MD4.2 mi · 25,171 people · home $454,200
- Ferndale, MD5.0 mi · 17,091 people · home $327,600
Arbutus questions
Is Arbutus, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arbutus scores better for retirees than 15% of Maryland towns and quieter than 20%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Arbutus?
The median owner-occupied home in Arbutus is valued at $322,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,090, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,318 a month.
What is the weather like in Arbutus?
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 19.3 inches of snow.
Does Arbutus get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arbutus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1961. 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)