Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Frederick?

Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Frederick?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Frederick?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Concord vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,650 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Concord, NH is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 12% higher in Frederick, MD. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$876

$1,658

+89% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,418

+25% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,661

+13% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,863

+5% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$365,200

+13% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$95,150

+14% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$71,060

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.1 yr

+3.6 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

59.2%

+1.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

41.8%

+1.7 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

23.2 min

30.1 min

+6.9 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

406

+125% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,251.5

1,696.3

+36% in Frederick, MD

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

52.1°F

+5.7°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

21.8

+19% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$22.57

+4% in Frederick, MD

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / MD)

None

+6.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.50%

+6.5 pp in MD

Concord vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Frederick?: Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Frederick?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).