The Town FilesLa Plata, Maryland
Town in Charles County · population 10,159 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $428,400
- Household income
- $121,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.7
La Plata is a town of 10,159 people in Charles County, Maryland. The median home is worth $428,400, close to the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Maryland towns.
How La Plata 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 La Plata is worth $428,400, close to the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $121,208, which is more affordable than 67% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,559 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Plata | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $428,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,559 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $121,208 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in La Plata
| People | La Plata | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 39.6 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in La Plata
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Plata since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 28, 2002 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 122 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Charles County since 1996
Charles 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 |
| 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 Charles County
Charles County had 43,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,436 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in La Plata itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in La Plata
6 public schools with 3,230 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata High School | 9-12 | 1,217 | 16.2 |
| Milton M. Somers Middle School | 6-8 | 659 | 13.2 |
| Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School | PK-5 | 605 | 16.8 |
| Mary H. Matula Elementary School | PK-5 | 578 | 14.1 |
| Phoenix International School of the Arts (charter) | 6-8 | 167 | 16.7 |
| F. B. Gwynn Educational Center | PK-PK | 4 | 0.1 |
Towns near La Plata
- Bensville, MD5.2 mi · 15,288 people · home $521,300
- Waldorf, MD5.3 mi · 81,410 people · home $407,600
- Bryans Road, MD7.8 mi · 8,650 people · home $377,300
- Accokeek, MD9.3 mi · 13,927 people · home $560,500
- Brandywine, MD10.6 mi · 10,550 people · home $551,000
- Indian Head, MD10.7 mi · 3,894 people · home $303,700
- Fort Washington, MD13.2 mi · 24,261 people · home $480,100
- Mount Vernon, VA13.8 mi · 12,914 people · home $836,200
La Plata questions
Is La Plata, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Plata scores better for retirees than 44% of Maryland towns and quieter than 60%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in La Plata?
The median owner-occupied home in La Plata is valued at $428,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,208, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,559 a month.
What is the weather like in La Plata?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does La Plata get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Plata since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 28, 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)