The Town FilesCharlestown, Maryland
Town in Cecil County · population 1,496 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,400
- Household income
- $122,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.5
Charlestown is a town of 1,496 people in Cecil County, Maryland. The median home is worth $378,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 95% of Maryland towns, hipper than 83% of Maryland towns.
How Charlestown 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 Charlestown is worth $378,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $122,125, which is more affordable than 87% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,735 a month. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlestown | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,735 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $122,125 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Charlestown
| People | Charlestown | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 94.3% |
Weather in Charlestown
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 2, 2002 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Cecil County since 1996
Cecil County has been included in 21 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 |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Cecil County
Cecil County had 36,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,481 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Charlestown itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Charlestown
1 public school with 302 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Elementary | PK-5 | 302 | 15.1 |
Towns near Charlestown
- North East, MD3.0 mi · 4,085 people · home $292,300
- Perryville, MD4.2 mi · 4,391 people · home $295,200
- Port Deposit, MD6.3 mi · 614 people · home $278,600
- Havre de Grace, MD7.2 mi · 14,807 people · home $392,900
- Elkton, MD8.9 mi · 15,807 people · home $293,400
- Rising Sun, MD9.1 mi · 2,740 people · home $309,100
- Chesapeake City, MD10.1 mi · 736 people · home $344,100
- West Nottingham, PA11.0 mi · 2,764 people · home $281,900
Charlestown questions
Is Charlestown, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlestown scores better for retirees than 53% of Maryland towns and quieter than 64%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Charlestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlestown is valued at $378,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $122,125, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,735 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlestown?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.8 inches of snow.
Does Charlestown get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 2, 2002. 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)