The Town FilesRidgely, Maryland
Town in Caroline County · population 1,611 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $276,700
- Household income
- $62,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 34.3
Ridgely is a town of 1,611 people in Caroline County, Maryland. The median home is worth $276,700, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Maryland towns, quieter than 72% of Maryland towns.
How Ridgely 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 Ridgely is worth $276,700, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $62,048, which is more affordable than 23% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $633 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgely | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,700 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $633 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $62,048 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Ridgely
| People | Ridgely | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 94.3% |
Weather in Ridgely
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.2 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgely since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 16, 2026 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 27, 2001.
Severe weather in Caroline County since 1996
Caroline 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 Caroline County
Caroline County had 9,246 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,786 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Ridgely itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Ridgely
3 public schools with 1,664 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Caroline High School | 9-12 | 1,237 | 16.1 |
| Ridgely Elementary School | PK-5 | 427 | 12.6 |
| Caroline Career & Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ridgely
- Greensboro, MD4.3 mi · 1,919 people · home $251,100
- Denton, MD6.0 mi · 4,848 people · home $234,600
- Cordova, MD8.6 mi · 551 people · home $320,400
- Centreville, MD11.5 mi · 4,727 people · home $449,900
- Church Hill, MD14.3 mi · 808 people · home $306,500
- Queenstown, MD15.3 mi · 705 people · home $384,800
- Easton, MD15.8 mi · 17,101 people · home $358,900
- Sudlersville, MD16.0 mi · 507 people · home $302,900
Ridgely questions
Is Ridgely, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgely scores better for retirees than 29% of Maryland towns and quieter than 72%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Ridgely?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgely is valued at $276,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,048, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $633 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgely?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.2 inches of snow.
Does Ridgely get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 16, 2026. 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)