The Town FilesCrisfield, Maryland
City in Somerset County · population 2,475 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,900
- Household income
- $50,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 31.3
Crisfield is a city of 2,475 people in Somerset County, Maryland. The median home is worth $137,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of Maryland towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Maryland towns, better for cycling than 96% of Maryland towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Maryland
- #2 in The 21 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maryland With Mild Winters
- #7 in 25 Small Towns in Maryland With the Cheapest Homes
- #9 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maryland
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Maryland With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #19 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maryland
How Crisfield 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 Crisfield is worth $137,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $50,139, which is more affordable than 93% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crisfield | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,900 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $766 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $50,139 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.5% | — |
Who lives in Crisfield
| People | Crisfield | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 94.3% |
Weather in Crisfield
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crisfield since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 4, 2022 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 31, 2025.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset County has been included in 14 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 |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3349: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 6,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,162 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Crisfield itself the ACS puts it at 15%.
Public schools in Crisfield
2 public schools with 889 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter G Woodson Elementary | PK-5 | 516 | 11.5 |
| Crisfield Academy and High School | 8-12 | 373 | 11.3 |
Towns near Crisfield
- Parksley, VA17.0 mi · 816 people · home $163,100
- Pocomoke City, MD17.2 mi · 4,295 people · home $199,000
- Princess Anne, MD18.1 mi · 3,446 people · home $231,900
- Mount Vernon, MD18.6 mi · 761 people · home $163,500
- Onancock, VA19.3 mi · 1,169 people · home $294,400
- Atlantic, VA19.6 mi · 808 people · home $252,000
- Pastoria, VA19.9 mi · 627 people · home $116,200
- Wattsville, VA20.0 mi · 1,341 people · home $184,700
Crisfield questions
Is Crisfield, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crisfield scores better for retirees than 91% of Maryland towns and quieter than 67%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.3).
How much does a house cost in Crisfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Crisfield is valued at $137,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,139, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Crisfield?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Crisfield get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crisfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 4, 2022. 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)