Maryland’s Safest Cities of 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

Maryland is the number-one most concerned state when it comes to gun violence, according to our latest State of Safety survey. However, a lower percentage of Marylanders said they experienced gun violence in the eight months prior to our survey compared to the previous year, so it's possible that crime is trending in a more peaceful direction in The Old Line State.

Maryland's five safest cities have an average violent crime rate of 1.4 incidents per 1,000 people, while the property crime average falls at 4.1 incidents per 1,000 people. 

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates for our 2025 report. However, our annual State of Safety survey offers a glimpse into Marylanders' attitudes and first-hand experiences with crime.

Four in 10 Maryland residents feels safe in the state, which is up from 32% the previous year. Still, this confidence level falls below the national average of 48%. 

Marylanders also show increasing optimism when asked if crime is decreasing. About 21% said yes—up from 6% the previous year. This aligns with their experiences with violent crime, property crime, and gun violence, all of which declined year over year. Only package theft remains a growing threat. 

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Marylanders are more likely to experience package theft than many other Americans, but they worry about it less than average. And while package theft seems to be on the rise in The Old Line State, property crime experiences have fallen slightly among our survey respondents. 

• 1 in 2 survey respondents (50%). said they're highly concerned about package theft on a regular basis, making it the least worrisome crime for Marylanders (US 52%).
• 42% of the Maryland residents we surveyed said they had experienced a package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 33% the previous year (US 37%).
• Only six other states reported a higher level of package theft experiences.
• Marylanders reported fewer experiences with property crime than the previous year—down from 26% to 24%.
• The percentage of Maryland residents concerned about property crime increased from 49% to 54% year over year (US 54%).
• Marylanders prefer to protect their property with security cameras (51%) and security systems (33%). Firearms and guard dogs tie for third at 29% each.
• 27% of Maryland respondents say they increased security measures in the 8 months prior to the survey (US 37%). That's the second lowest reported level in the country. 

Marylanders were less likely to experience violent crime in the 8 months before our survey compared to the previous year, but their concern increased slightly during the same time period.

• Concern about violent crime rose by 1 percentage point year over year, with 61% of survey participants saying it's a top worry on a daily basis (US 59%).
• Marylanders reported less experiences with violent crime (11%) than the nationwide average (14%), a 6-point decrease year over year.
• High levels of concern don't seem to lead to action in Maryland. Just 27% of respondents say they use some form of personal protection versus 35% nationwide.
• Marylanders prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (17%), pocket knives (13%), and firearms (13%). 

• 74% of respondents named gun violence as a safety concern—the highest in the US, which averages 57% nationwide.
• 9% of Marylanders reported experiencing gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey, which is a 6 point decrease year over year and the fifth lowest percentage in the US.
• There were 7 mass shooting incidents in Maryland in 2023, 15 fewer than the previous year.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 28 cities met criteria to be considered for ranking—20 more than last year.
• Ocean Pines is the safest city in Maryland in 2025.
• None of the safest cities appeared on last year's list.
• Ocean Pines and Thurmont reported zero murders, rapes, and robberies.
• 5 total murders were reported in Maryland's five safest cities, and they all occurred in Frostburg. 
• Frostburg reported the same number of violent crimes as property crimes (8 each).
• 84% of the safest cities' aggravated assaults occurred in Brunswick and Hampstead.

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