The Town FilesTilghman Island, Maryland
Community in Talbot County · population 807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,400
- Household income
- $45,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 57.1
Tilghman Island is a community of 807 people in Talbot County, Maryland. The median home is worth $299,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Maryland towns, quieter than 99% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 97% of Maryland towns.
How Tilghman Island 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 Tilghman Island is worth $299,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $45,625, which is more affordable than 4% of Maryland towns. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tilghman Island | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | — | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $45,625 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.9% | — |
Who lives in Tilghman Island
| People | Tilghman Island | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.7% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in Tilghman Island
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilghman Island since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 27, 1978 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 18, 1957.
Severe weather in Talbot County since 1996
Talbot County has been included in 20 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 Talbot County
Talbot County had 18,220 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,684 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Tilghman Island itself the ACS puts it at 13.4%.
Public schools in Tilghman Island
1 public school with 90 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilghman Elementary | PK-5 | 90 | 10.0 |
Towns near Tilghman Island
- St. Michaels, MD8.5 mi · 1,049 people · home $565,600
- Oxford, MD9.1 mi · 611 people · home $791,700
- North Beach, MD10.7 mi · 2,146 people · home $394,000
- Chesapeake Beach, MD11.8 mi · 6,356 people · home $444,600
- Deale, MD12.4 mi · 4,943 people · home $431,400
- Romancoke, MD13.1 mi · 1,855 people · home $450,900
- Shady Side, MD13.2 mi · 5,806 people · home $503,500
- Owings, MD14.4 mi · 2,141 people · home $602,900
Tilghman Island questions
Is Tilghman Island, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tilghman Island scores better for retirees than 96% of Maryland towns and quieter than 99%. 31.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.1).
How much does a house cost in Tilghman Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Tilghman Island is valued at $299,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,625, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Tilghman Island?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Tilghman Island get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilghman Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 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)