Your EZ Guide to Living In Salisbury, MD

Make your home the Capital of the Eastern Shore–beautiful Salisbury, Maryland. This may be a small town, but you wouldn’t know it by the cultural amenities and youthful vibe packed into the space. Life in Salisbury shows small-town living can be exciting and dynamic while still being affordable and friendly. Explore what to expect from living in Salisbury, MD. 

About Salisbury

The Eastern Shores’ largest city is an incredible place to live, backed by numerous independent media accolades. US News ranked it among the best places to retire, safest places to live, and fastest-growing cities in the nation for 2023. Other lists place it among the best college towns for families, a top place to live on the East Coast, and a top up-and-coming city. 

What makes it so special? Not only do you get the closeness of a small town feel, but Salisbury is both a water town and a college town. The Wicomico River and its branches run through the Eastern Shore’s most centrally located town on the Delmarva Peninsula. Beautiful bridges crisscross the waterway, adding to its visual charm. Architecture is one part of its cultural vibrancy; the other is added by students who come from around the world who want to learn at one of the state’s top public universities.

Like many local communities, the town’s founding dates back to the colonial era. The early colonists named it after Salisbury in England. Today, it is the county seat for Wicomico County and home to over 30,000 full-time residents. 

Its reliance on agriculture, transportation, and education makes it different among Eastern Shore small towns. Seafood industries are ever present, as Salisbury lies a meandering 15 miles from the Chesapeake Bay. It has a very active port and marina district. But its shops, restaurants, and festivals embrace the locals’ love of the arts, the four seasons, and colonial heritage. 

Cost of Living

Maryland isn’t exactly known for its affordability, but Salisbury bucks that trend. Living here costs locals 16% less than the national average–and 25% less than Maryland’s average costs! 

Housing is a major contributor to those cost savings. As a snapshot in time, the February 2024 median home list price was $253,000–significantly less than the national median of $415,000 at the same time. See current homes for sale in Salisbury. 

Other influencing factors are reduced transportation, health care, and miscellaneous costs. Transportation costs are lower because Salisbury encourages a bike-friendly community and is growing its bike network. It also operates a free downtown trolley service to students and the general public.

Utilities and groceries tend to run above average, but it aligns with what most Maryland residents pay.

Salisbury Economy

In the 19th century, Salisbury grew rapidly as a transportation hub due to its strategic location along the Wicomico River. The local agricultural goods were shipped down the river to the bay and Maryland’s destinations beyond. It encouraged shipbuilding, too. Later, the railroad expansion helped Salisbury develop seafood processing and manufacturing industries.

All this contributed to its economic prosperity and population expansion. Establishing Salisbury University in 1925 furthered the growth of healthcare, education, and service industries. Its growth is vital to the town’s ongoing prosperity in the Eastern Shore, and it’s the county’s second-largest non-governmental employer.

Other leading local employers are Peninsula Regional Medical Center, the region’s top healthcare provider, and Walmart. Manufacturing is a top source of employment, with four of the top ten employers by size working in this sector. The local companies produce highly diversified products, too, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, machining, and food processing. For example, Perdue Farms has headquarters and poultry processing in the county.

Salisbury has been one of Maryland’s fastest-growing cities in recent decades. In the 2010s, its population expanded by 10%. The City of Salisbury has undertaken urban renewal and revitalization efforts to enhance its downtown area, improve infrastructure, and promote economic development. These initiatives have revitalized historic buildings, created green spaces, and established new businesses and amenities.

Education in Salisbury

For PK-12 education, Salisbury falls under the Wicomico County Public School system. It’s a smaller district that educates about 15,000 students each year. 

Despite being classified as small, the educational experience is structured with incredible variety. It has half- and full-day preschool programs for three- and four-year-old’s. Students and families will find a challenging curriculum with an intermediate-level Magnet Program, a STEM Academy, and Career and Technology Education. Its school combination has 16 elementary schools, an elementary-middle grades 4-8 school, three middle schools, one 6-12 school, and four high schools. Plus, there’s an evening high school, an online learning lab, and a specialized Academy. 

For higher education, Salisbury University is right in town. Celebrating its centennial founding in 2025, Salisbury students undertake a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in over 60 disciplines, including liberal arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, social work, and more. Best of all, it’s a public university, which makes it more affordable for in-state students. It ranked no. 27 in the nation as a best value school by US News and World Report in 2024. Around 7,000 undergrads enroll each year. As a testament to its rigor, Salisbury has a high concentration of Fulbright students. 

Alternatively, Salisbury also has the Wor-Wic Community College, which provides affordable education and job training programs. Its workforce development programs are for Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset community residents, and it has multiple Lower Eastern Shore campuses. 

Arts and Culture in Salisbury

Despite being a small town, Salisbury has a rich recreational scene with ample ways to entertain the whole family. The hub is the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District, which coordinates popular events like the Downtown Salisbury Festival, New Year’s Eve, and the 3rd Fridays.

Art abounds throughout the town’s culture. Perhaps Salisbury’s most famous arts event is the Maryland Folk Festival, formerly the National Folk Festival. The three-day festival showcases the traditional music, dance, crafts, and food of diverse cultures across the United States. Over 250 musicians, dancers, and artisans are typically scheduled in performances and workshops. It’s a melting pot of cultures and traditions with authentic ethnic cuisines and craft brews. The prestigious festival normally takes place over a weekend in September.

But this festival is only one weekend a year. Get a sense of Salisbury’s artistic scene at 3rd Fridays, a monthly event downtown. The event promotes local arts and culture, and the artisans don’t need to pay to set up a booth. The festival is outside from April through November and moves indoors for the winter months. Live music and food trucks accompany the event. Each 3rd Friday also has a theme. 

Further supporting the ongoing appreciation for creativity, the Salisbury University Art Galleries run exhibitions, tours, and lectures while maintaining the University’s art collection. A more relaxed vibe is found at the Salisbury Art Space, a public venue hosting exhibitions. The space includes ceramics and drawing/painting studios that provide classes for all. 

One more unique figure in the Salisbury art scene is the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, which celebrates a long-time tradition. Learn about decoy making with workshops on hand-carving ducks and other birds in astonishing detail. The local Ward Foundation holds an annual world championship event for wildfowl carving. 

The Great Outdoors

Love the great outdoors? Salisbury embraces it, too, and living here opens the door to endless outdoor opportunities. Right in downtown awaits the City Park (also home to the Zoo), a waterfront and greenway space. Play on tennis courts, walk the waterside or picnic on an island. The City has eight additional parks with playgrounds, sports courts, community gardens, and walking trails. 

Want a fun day with the family? The 12-acre Salisbury Zoo may be much smaller than the Baltimore Zoo or Philadelphia Zoo. However, visitors are still charmed by the 100 colorful animals that call it home. Not only does it rehabilitate bald eagles, but there are parrots, kangaroos, and spider monkeys. The Zoo has been a beloved part of Salisbury for over 60 years. 

The Wicomico River runs through Salisbury, as does Beaverdam Creek, Johnson Pond, and Schumacher Lake. The combined waterway access means you’ll always be near places to kayak, canoe, paddle board, or motorboat. The beautiful flat waters run to the Chesapeake Bay, so you’ll have ample room to cast a fishing line, try crabbing, or enjoy water sports. 

Residents of Salisbury have even more parks available for fun day trips. Roaring Point Park on the Nanticoke River has beaches, boat ramps, and picnic areas. Across the inlet, Assateague State Park island feels a world away, with its rolling dunes and wild roaming horses. Plus, the Atlantic side beaches, like Ocean City or Redondo Beach, are always accessible.

Living in Salisbury

Salisbury residents enjoy a unique and welcoming place to live, work, and play. Few towns combine the outdoor waterfront access with an arts scene, unique culture, and affordability like Salisbury does. Add this town to your list when you’re ready to make a home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.