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Buying a home in Ocean City, Maryland

The typical owner-occupied home in Ocean City is worth about $429,000, about the same as the Maryland median of $419,900 and 29% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,997 a year in property taxes, about 0.93% of their home's value, close to the Maryland rate of 0.97%. The median household earns $77,750 a year, so the median home costs 5.5 times the median income (4.1 times for Maryland). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Ocean City at a glance

Ocean City Maryland U.S.
Median home value $429,000 $419,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,997 $4,093 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.93% 0.97% 0.94%
Median household income $77,750 $103,678 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 71% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,053 $2,347 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.1% 20.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,353 $1,705 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.5% 30.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1979 1980
Vacant homes 87.2% 7.7% 10.1%
Population 6,903 6,206,011 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Ocean City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ocean City home of $429,000 with 20% down costs about $2,820 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,535, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $120,855 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 44% of the median Ocean City household income of $77,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $276,000.

The median rent here is $1,353 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,467 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$85,800
Loan amount$343,200
Principal and interest$2,309
Property taxes (0.93% a year)$332
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$179
PMI$0
Total per month$2,820

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$15,015
Loan amount$421,230
Principal and interest$2,834
Property taxes (0.93% a year)$332
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$179
FHA mortgage insurance$190
Total per month$3,535

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Questions about home buying in Ocean City

What is the median home value in Ocean City?

About $429,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Ocean City?

Homeowners pay a median $3,997 a year, which is about 0.93% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Ocean City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,820 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $120,855 a year.

More about Ocean City

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data