10 Largest Cities in Maryland
- Baltimore: 585,708
- Columbia: 104,681
- Germantown: 91,249
- Waldorf: 81,410
- Silver Spring: 81,015
- Frederick: 78,171
- Ellicott City: 75,947
- Glen Burnie: 72,891
- Gaithersburg: 69,657
- Rockville: 67,117
1. Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and the 30th largest in the US, with a population of 585,708. The greater Baltimore metropolitan area is home to over 2.8 million people, making it the 20th largest in the United States. It’s also part of the Washington-Baltimore MSA along with the nation’s capital, which features a total population of just under 10 million residents, making it the third largest in the country behind New York-Newark and Los Angeles-Long Beach. Established as an independent city, Baltimore is the largest in the country with that type of governance. However, in recent decades, the city has suffered from urban decay and economic hardships, and the population decreased by 2.7% between 2010 and 2020.
2. Columbia
Columbia, MD, is a census-designated place in Howard County with a population of 104,681 residents, making it the second-largest municipality in Maryland. Located between Baltimore and DC, Columbia is a wealthy area with a thriving tech industry and one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Columbia often ranks among the best places to live in the state and country. The population has exploded since 1970, when it was home to only 8,815 residents, and increased by 5.1% between 2010 and 2020.
3. Germantown
Germantown is another one of the biggest cities in Maryland by population, with 91,249 residents. Located about 28 miles from DC, Germantown is a popular suburb and a major part of the Washington MSA. In 2023, WalletHub ranked Germantown the most diverse city in the US, and the population is 36.3% White, 21.8% Black or African American, 19.7% Asian, 18.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 3.3% two or more races. Like Columbia, the population has increased by 10x since 1970 and continued to rise by 5.6% between 2010 and 2020.
4. Waldorf
Waldorf is a census-designated place in Charles County with a population of 81,410, making it the fourth largest place in Maryland. Located 23 miles from DC, Waldorf is considered a major suburb and a significant part of the MSA. The community has also experienced exponential growth since 1980, when there were fewer than 5,000 residents, and the population increased by 200% between 2000 and 2010 and another 20.2% by 2020. It’s now the largest commercial and residential center in southern Maryland and a popular bedroom community for residents who work in DC.
5. Silver Spring
Silver Spring is a census-designed place in Montgomery County with a population of 81,015, making it the fifth largest place in Maryland by population. Although not formally incorporated, Silver Springs is considered an edge city of Washington, DC, due to its proximity to the capital. It features an urbanized downtown center near the northern borders of DC, surrounded by several suburban neighborhoods. Although Silver Springs has not seen quite the same explosive growth as other major CDPs, the population did increase by 13.4% between 2010 and 2020.
6. Frederick
With a population of 78,171, Frederick is also one of the largest cities in Maryland. It’s also a major part of the Washington MSA. Home to Fort Derrick, a US Army installation and the largest employer in the city, Frederick is a major hub for research, health care, and government. It’s also a diverse city with a growing population that increased by nearly 20% between 2010 and 2020.
7. Ellicott City
Ellicott City is the 7th biggest city in Maryland by population, with 75,947 residents. Despite its name, Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place that is within the Baltimore MSA. Known as one of the most haunted small towns on the East Coast, Ellicott City has a booming tourism industry. The population increased by 15% from 2010 to 2020.
8. Glen Burnie
Glen Burnie is a suburb of Baltimore and the 8th biggest city in Maryland, with a population of 72,891. The unincorporated town is in a central location near several major highways that lead to downtown Baltimore. With good schools, solid infrastructure, and plenty of shopping, Glen Burnie is a popular suburb that has seen a 60% increase in population since 2000.
9. Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County and the ninth-largest community in Maryland by population, with 69,657 residents. Unlike many Maryland communities, Gaithersburg was officially incorporated as a town in 1878 and then as a city in 1968. Situated northwest of DC, Gaithersburg is within the Washington MSA. With historic attractions and major employers like IBM, Lockheed Martin, and AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg is a bustling suburb that has witnessed an explosion in population over the past few decades, including a 16.2% increase between 2010 and 2020.
10. Rockville
Rockville is also one of the largest cities in Maryland by population, having 67,117 residents. Located in Montgomery County, Rockville is within the Baltimore-Washington MSA. Rockville is also at the heart of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor, a hub of major bioscience and tech companies, along with several government institutions and one of the largest retail hubs in Montgomery County. Like many popular cities in Maryland, Rockville has seen consistent population growth, and the number of residents increased by 9.7% between 2010 and 2020.