EZ Search Guide to Living In Easton, Maryland

History harmonizes elegantly with the arts in Easton, Maryland. It creates a living experience revered as one of America’s finest small-town cultures. New residents will lose themselves in the picturesque vintage downtown packed with art galleries and shops. The neighborhoods feel a world away with their historic Colonial and Victorian architecture. Get to know this jewel of the Eastern Shore and if living near Easton’s idyllic community is your place to call home.

About Easton

Welcome home to one of America’s top small towns. Media like Kiplinger, Travel + Leisure, and Bloomberg Business have ranked Easton’s quality of life highly, citing its charming look, recreational access, and arts scene.

Part of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Easton sits midway on the Delmarva Peninsula in Talbot County on the Tred Avon River. This inlet flows into the mighty Chesapeake Bay, giving residents that prized access to bay crabs and seafood Maryland is known for.

Easton may be a small town, but major metro areas are nearby. By car, you can be in Baltimore, Wilmington, or Washington, DC, in under 90 minutes. Philadelphia is about a two-hour drive, while New York City is just over three hours. Many visitors come to Easton from these destinations for their city living escape.

Easton’s Character

Easton has always been the Eastern Shore’s center for culture since it became home to a regional courthouse in 1710. The governmental offices made it Maryland’s eastern capital, so people flowed here for business and community. Many Eastern Shore firsts occurred here: banks, newspapers, federal offices, hotels…all were among the first on this side of Maryland. 

Access to the Chesapeake’s waters through the Tred Avon River was important for its growth. Early Maryland colonials relied on these inlets, bays, and waters as their primary means of transportation. The riches of land–primarily tobacco–would find their way onto boats and shipped to destinations beyond.

Talbot County was also home to one of the highest percentages of freed African Americans even before the Civil War. They formed communities in neighborhoods such as The Hill and Unionville. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass was born at a nearby plantation. Statues and a driving tour mark sites important to his legacy.

Walking down the brick-fronted and tree-shaded sidewalks here feels like stepping back in time or to a whole new country. Downtown has a distinctly European flair, with sidewalk cafes and Victorian-styled brick buildings. Multiple structures, like the Tidewater Inn and the Academy Art Museum’s 1820 schoolhouse, date over 200 years old.

But it’s not all beauty and charm, as Easton has struggled to maintain its economy. Right now, that historic charm is helping Easton revive itself. Its historic buildings have new life as a hospitality destination. Fine-dining restaurants, champagne bars, and wine shops cater to vacationers and out-of-towners seeking escape from the District of Columbia, Wilmington, and Philly. Today, around 17,000 people call Easton home. 

Easton Cost of Living

Easton’s charms haven’t escaped notice, which is why it’s one of the nation’s best small towns. Not only is it a great place to live, but waves of visitors seek its tranquility for their vacations. The influx of tourism with the locals means Easton’s services and goods are in higher demand. Living costs run about 6% above the national average.

The good news is when compared to Maryland, Easton is still a more affordable city to live in. Its housing is 7% less than Maryland’s average, while transportation is 42% less.

Easton Real Estate

The older homes feel like classic America: wide, green lots, spacious front porches on old homes, well-established trees shading the narrow streets. The closer to downtown, the more vintage the buildings become. Find a concentration of Federal brick styles, Colonial, Victorian mansions, and craftsman bungalows. Part of Easton’s charm is the prevalence of this architecture.

But Easton is on the Delmarva Peninsula and a River. Here, you can find beautiful waterfront estates, from townhomes to executive homes with private docks.

Sales-activity-wise, Talbot County is adjusting to nationwide market fluctuations. As a snapshot in time, it had 33 closed sales in February 2024, 3.1% more than the prior year. Median sale prices slipped down 16% to $355,000. But don’t mistake that for lack of demand, as homes spent a median 17 days on the market. About 38% more new listings did come online, but that’s a total of 65. That put Talbot County at a 2.88-month supply of listings.

To frame Talbot County home sales against the whole Eastern Shore region:

Get an updated look at Easton homes for sale and what’s currently available nearby.

Education in Easton 

Maryland’s solid public education system will reassure families. The local schools fall under Talbot County Public Schools. It’s a small district with 4,500 students learning in five elementary schools, one middle school, one 6-12 school, and one high school. The district does provide access to college coursework and AP courses.

From Easton, families also have four additional private school choices covering grades K-12. The schools are secular and non-secular.

Higher education isn’t available in Easton. However, five institutions serving the greater Eastern Shore region with vocational and career training are driveable from Easton.

Healthcare Access

Maryland, in general, has well-ranked healthcare access. World-class John Hopkins Hospital is across the bay. But you only sometimes need this hospital’s cutting-edge specialized care and research. In that case, Easton Memorial Hospital provides local general, emergency, and some specialized care services. It falls under the University of Maryland medical system. Be assured that the medical professionals are well-qualified and deliver best-in-class care. 

A medical campus with private practice medicine providers in oncology, pediatrics, physical therapy, and more supports that center.

Easton Job Market

Hospitality work may seem to dominate on the surface, and it is an integral part of Easton’s economy. However, the largest employing industries for those living in Easton are health care and social assistance. After that comes the retail trades and educational services. 

Easton Arts and Culture

Easton’s access to freshly grown goods is incredible. The local Farmer’s Market runs from April through December on North Harrison Street. In the winter, visit the Amish Country Farmers Market, open all year every Thursday-Saturday. The indoor market sells fresh produce and handmade products, from cheese to furniture. Takeaway dining is available. 

Part of Easton’s renaissance as a vacation destination is its thriving arts culture. The historic 400-seat Avalon Theater still delivers shows a century later. Today, it’s more performance arts than the movies and vaudeville it first hosted.

Experience the art culture starting with the First Friday Art Walks, which run downtown from 5-8 pm. The galleries stay open late, allowing patrons to explore the latest exhibits and engage with artists. Besides the First Fridays, the Academy Art Museum has an impressive 1,000-piece European and American art collection. It’s open weekly. One of Easton’s top festivals is Plein Air Easton, where artists in this movement compete in a juried art competition. 

The Waterfowl Festival is another prized event. The focus is the incredible wildlife art from over 450 artisans. It also features demonstrations, calling contests, a decoy auction, and master classes. Over 18,000 people come into town during the fall season.

Museums tell the city’s 300-year history and counting. The Talbot Historical Society documents the area’s growth through photos and artifacts. Its outdoor gardens are open daily. Historic walking tours will guide you past Easton’s Federal and Colonial buildings that have escaped war, fire, and railroads to create the town’s character. 

Given the area’s long history, Easton has a fine collection of antiquing stores. 

The city leans into its Colonial character during the seasonal events. Costumed carolers and “old-timey” entertainment walk the street in the Olde Tyme Holiday Parade.

Easton Outdoor Activities

The Pickering Creek Audubon Center is a 410-acre working farm that protects wetlands vital to migratory species. Don’t be surprised to find small groups outfitted with cameras and binoculars searching for prized winged creatures.

The Hog Neck Golf course is among the best public courses in the country. Choose between its 18-hole championship greens or the 9-hole executive course. The facilities also have a pro shop and driving range. 

What’s life in Easton without getting on the water? At Easton Point Marina and Easton Cycle and Sport, you can rent motor and paddle boats that launch onto the Tred Avon River. Charters will take you to the bay for a day of fishing for striped bass or for a Chesapeake sailing experience.

The bike routes that circle around and depart from Easton are another top draw. Talbot County has multiple bike loops taking cyclists through historic farmlands and out to the waterfront. The 38.2-mile Chesapeake Views loop may be among its most popular. 

Living in Easton, MD

While deeply rooted in its storied past, modern Easton pulses with a dynamic energy that is continually evolving. A day spent here is not just lived but cherished. Come get to know Easton, Maryland, and you’ll see why this is one of America’s best small towns.