The Town FilesChesapeake Beach, Maryland
Town in Calvert County · population 6,356 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $444,600
- Household income
- $138,895
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 41.9
Chesapeake Beach is a town of 6,356 people in Calvert County, Maryland. The median home is worth $444,600, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Maryland towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 89% of Maryland towns.
- #2 in The 11 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Maryland
- #13 in 25 Small Towns in Maryland With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maryland
- #20 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Maryland
- #48 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
How Chesapeake Beach 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 Chesapeake Beach is worth $444,600, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $138,895, which is more affordable than 83% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,756 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chesapeake Beach | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $444,600 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,756 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $138,895 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Chesapeake Beach
| People | Chesapeake Beach | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.0% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 41.3 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 94.3% |
Weather in Chesapeake Beach
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.2 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesapeake Beach since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 27, 1978 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Calvert County since 1996
Calvert County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 4, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4583: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Calvert County
Calvert County had 22,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,154 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Chesapeake Beach itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Chesapeake Beach
1 public school with 522 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Elementary | PK-5 | 522 | 16.8 |
Towns near Chesapeake Beach
- Huntingtown, MD6.4 mi · 3,545 people · home $589,900
- Deale, MD6.7 mi · 4,943 people · home $431,400
- Shady Side, MD9.8 mi · 5,806 people · home $503,500
- Prince Frederick, MD10.2 mi · 3,226 people · home $404,400
- Croom, MD11.4 mi · 2,720 people · home $636,600
- Marlton, MD13.5 mi · 9,802 people · home $415,700
- Marlboro Meadows, MD13.5 mi · 3,655 people · home $408,400
- Mayo, MD15.0 mi · 8,832 people · home $604,900
Chesapeake Beach questions
Is Chesapeake Beach, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chesapeake Beach scores better for retirees than 47% of Maryland towns and quieter than 34%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Chesapeake Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Chesapeake Beach is valued at $444,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $138,895, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,756 a month.
What is the weather like in Chesapeake Beach?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.2 inches of snow.
Does Chesapeake Beach get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesapeake Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 27, 1978. 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)