Your EZ Guide to Living In Salisbury, MD

Discover the Capital of the Eastern Shore, the beautiful Salisbury, Maryland. This may be a small town, butow it. The town’s youthful energy is complemented by many cultural amenities like street fairs and music festivals. Life in Salisbury shows small-town living can be affordable and dynamic simultaneously. 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 Salisbury City 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?

Gain the benefits of a close-knit community married with the high quality of life found in waterfront and college towns. The Wicomico River and its branches meander through Salisbury. Beautiful bridges crisscross the waterways, adding to its visual charm. Heritage architecture enhances cultural vibrancy. The other is added by students who come from around the world to learn at one of the state’s top public universities.

Like many Eastern Shore 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. 

Where is Salisbury, Maryland?

Salisbury, MD, is the Eastern Shore’s most central town on the Delmarva Peninsula. It strikes the perfect location balance. Residents are just the right distance from major cities to maintain its quiet community charm. Yet, the bustling metropolises of Washington, DC, or Wilmington are close enough for a day trip.

Its reliance on agriculture, transportation, and education distinguishes it from other small towns on the Eastern Shore. Seafood industries are ever-present. Salisbury lies a meandering 15 miles from the Chesapeake Bay and has a very active port and marina district. But its shops, restaurants, and festivals are more like what you’d find in a larger city. These urban amenities 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 City bucks that trend. Living here costs locals 16% less than the national average–and 25% less than Maryland’s average costs! 

Affordable housing is a major reason why Salisbury, MD, saves locals money. As a snapshot in time, the May 2024 median sale price was $292,500–significantly less than the national median of $420,000 for the year’s first quarter. See current homes for sale in Salisbury. 

Low transportation, health care, and miscellaneous costs contribute to its lower living expenses. Salisbury encourages a bike-friendly community and is growing its bike lanes network. It also offers students and the general public a free downtown trolley service. This public transportation feature is more common in major cities than in small towns! And with access to healthcare facilities in town, you don’t need to travel far for your care.

Grocery and utility costs tend to run above average, but it aligns with what most Maryland residents pay.

Its 2023 cost of living index, with 100 being the national average:

Salisbury Job Opportunities

In the 19th century, Salisbury City 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.

This contributed to its economic prosperity and population expansion. Establishing Salisbury University in 1925 furthered the growth of the healthcare, education, and service industries. The college is vital to the town’s continued prosperity in the Eastern Shore. Today, it’s Wicomico County’s second-largest non-governmental employer.

Other leading local employers are Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Walmart. Manufacturing offers more employment opportunities, representing four of the top ten employers by size. The local companies produce highly diversified products, too, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, machining, and food processing. For example, Perdue Farms has its 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. It’s working to improve infrastructure and promote its economic development. These initiatives have revitalized historic buildings and expanded public transportation options. It’s supporting new businesses to expand job opportunities. Salisbury continues to improve its family-friendly atmosphere with abundant parks and increasing access to amenities.

Salisbury Real Estate Market

The best part of living in Salisbury is all the charming communities and neighborhoods. You have a variety of housing options. Explore beautiful historic homes that property owners have lovingly preserved across downtown. Or, find waterfront living both downtown and at rural homes in the Eastern Shore countryside. Here are a few neighborhoods in Salisbury to show you the diversity in housing:

• Westwood lies northwest of downtown, beside beautiful Johnson Pond. Residents live near three schools, including Wicomico Middle School and Jackson Park with its Youth Center. Find single-family homes.
• North Camden is an option for off-campus housing, being just south of the University. Locals have Tonytank Pond, shopping, and a farmer’s market as perks. Nearby are the University Park apartments, some townhomes, and single-family homes.
• Doverdale is known for slightly more spacious homes, some of which are historic homes with colonial and Victorian architecture. It’s near the Salisbury City Park and the Zoo, Wicomico High School, and Main Street.
• Upper Ferry Estate is outside Salisbury city limits, but some homes have lovely waterfront views. It’s near the Green Hill Country Club.

Education in Salisbury

For PK-12 education, Salisbury City 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-olds. Students and families will find a challenging curriculum with an intermediate-level Magnet Program, a STEM Academy, and Career and Technology Education. Its school options combine 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. The college runs multiple Lower Eastern Shore campuses. 

Arts and Culture in Salisbury

Despite being a small town, Salisbury has a rich array of amenities. Locals have ample ways to entertain the whole family, starting with an active arts and entertainment community. 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.

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 strong 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 aspect of the Salisbury art scene is the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, which celebrates a long-time local 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 not just in carving duck decoys. Living here opens the door for nature lovers to appreciate 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 or Philadelphia Zoo. However, visitors are still charmed by the 100 colorful animals that call it home. It rehabilitates majestic bald eagles, and more exotic species like parrots, kangaroos, and spider monkeys also call it home. 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. 

Salisbury City residents have even more parks available for outdoor activities. Pemberton Historical Park has the only 18th-century home open to the public, a nature center, and trails to explore. 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, MD

Few towns combine the outdoor waterfront access with an arts scene, unique culture, and affordability like Salisbury does. The urban amenities and cost of living are why locals have a high quality of life. Add this town to your list when you are ready to make a home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Let a local real estate agent show you Salisbury, MD, and its charms.