How affordable is land and property here?

The median home price is $217,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.83%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.

Is broadband internet available?

Broadband reaches 88.6% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.

Garrett County

MD · Pop. 28,713 · Suburban County

70/100Homestead Score

Garrett County sits in Maryland across 649 square miles, home to 28,713 people at 44.2 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $217,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.83%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 168-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.5°F and average winter lows of 21.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.8 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Garrett County Memorial Hospital is 11.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 88.6% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.83%

Growing Season: 168 days

Broadband: 88.6%

Density: 44.2/sq mi

Pros

A low effective property tax rate of 0.83% holds annual carrying costs down.
Garrett County Memorial Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 11.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
A low poverty rate of 11% signals a relatively stable local economy.

At a glance

Garrett County, MD is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score: 70/100
Median home price: $217k
Property tax: 0.83%
Growing season: 168 days (zone 6a)
Annual rainfall: 39.8"
Broadband: 88.6%
Nearest hospital: Garrett County Memorial Hospital, 11.4 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.83%

Median Household Income$69,031

Poverty Rate11%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$217K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6a

Growing Season168 days

Annual Rainfall39.8 inches

Avg Summer High79.5°F

Avg Winter Low21.2°F

Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10

Wildfire4/10

Tornado3/10

Flood4/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalGarrett County Memorial Hospital (11.4 mi)

Emergency RoomYes

Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage88.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.3%

Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Garrett County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Garrett County?: Garrett County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 168-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.5°F, and average winter lows of 21.2°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?: The median home price is $217,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.83%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?: Broadband reaches 88.6% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
How close is healthcare?: Garrett County Memorial Hospital is 11.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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More counties in Maryland

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Garrett County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified June 2026

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.