Beltsville, MD vs Wildewood, MD

Beltsville, MD and Wildewood, MD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.9% difference in their overall index. Beltsville scores 130 while Wildewood scores 127 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Beltsville is $1,989/month compared to $2,036/month in Wildewood — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Beltsville has cheaper rent, Wildewood actually has lower median home values ($363,100 vs $381,100).

Median household income in Beltsville is $97,115 compared to $124,247 in Wildewood (-21.8%). Wildewood offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Beltsville spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 19.7% in Wildewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (59.3°F vs 58.3°F). Wildewood receives more rainfall at 45.3" per year compared to 41.8" in Beltsville.