According to the 2020 census, Maryland’s population is 6,177,224, ranked 18th in the nation. Maryland’s population continues to grow by at least 7% each decade. It is the 22nd fast-growing state in the nation relative to its population. The “biggest” cities (incorporated) and areas (unincorporated), in terms of population, can be seen below:
OVER 10,000 POPULATION
| 1990 census | 2000 census | 2010 census | 2020 census | |
| Baltimore | 736,014 | 651,154 | 620,961 | 585,708 |
| Frederick | 40,148 | 52,767 | 65,239 | 78,171 |
| Rockville | 44,830 | 47,388 | 61,209 | 67,117 |
| Gaithersburg | 39,676 | 52,613 | 59,933 | 69,657 |
| Bowie | 37,642 | 50,269 | 54,727 | 58,329 |
| Hagerstown | 35,306 | 36,687 | 39,662 | 43,527 |
| Annapolis | 33,195 | 35,838 | 38,394 | 40,812 |
| College Park | 23,714 | 24,657 | 30,413 | 34,740 |
| Salisbury | 20,592 | 23,743 | 30,343 | 33,050 |
| Laurel | 19,086 | 19,960 | 25,115 | 30,060 |
| Greenbelt | 20,561 | 21,456 | 23,068 | 24,921 |
| Cumberland | 23,712 | 21,518 | 20,859 | 19,076 |
| Westminster | 13,060 | 16,731 | 18,590 | 20,126 |
| Hyattsville | 13,864 | 14,733 | 17,557 | 21,187 |
| Takoma Park | 16,724 | 17,299 | 16,715 | 17,629 |
| Easton | 9,372 | 11,708 | 15,945 | 17,101 |
| Elkton | 9,073 | 11,893 | 15,443 | 15,807 |
| Aberdeen | 13,087 | 13,842 | 14,959 | 16,254 |
| Havre de Grace | 8,952 | 11,331 | 12,952 | 14,807 |
| Cambridge | 11,514 | 10,911 | 12,326 | 13,096 |
| New Carrollton | 12,002 | 12,589 | 12,135 | 13,715 |
OVER 20,000 POPULATION
| 1990 census | 2000 census | 2010 census | 2020 census | |
| Columbia | 75,883 | 88,254 | 99,615 | 104,681 |
| Germantown | 41,145 | 55,419 | 86,395 | 91,249 |
| Silver Spring | 76,046 | 76,540 | 71,452 | 81,015 |
| Waldorf | 15,058 | 22,312 | 67,752 | 81,410 |
| Glen Burnie | 37,305 | 38,922 | 67,639 | 72,891 |
| Ellicott City | 41,396 | 56,397 | 65,834 | 75,947 |
| Dundalk | 65,800 | 62,306 | 63,597 | 67,796 |
| Wheaton-Glenmont | 53,720 | 57,694 | 61,813 | 68,860 |
| Bethesda | 62,936 | 55,277 | 60,858 | 68,056 |
| Towson | 49,445 | 51,793 | 55,197 | 59,553 |
| Aspen Hill | 45,494 | 50,228 | 48,759 | 51,063 |
| Bel Air South | 26,421 | 39,711 | 47,709 | 57,648 |
| Potomac | 45,634 | 44,822 | 44,965 | 47,018 |
| Severn | 24,499 | 35,076 | 44,231 | 57,118 |
| North Bethesda | 29,656 | 38,610 | 43,828 | 50,094 |
| Catonsville | 35,233 | 39,820 | 41,567 | 44,701 |
| Essex | 40,872 | 39,078 | 39,262 | 40,505 |
| Woodlawn | 32,907 | 36,079 | 37,879 | 40,469 |
| Severna Park | 25,879 | 28,507 | 37,634 | 39,933 |
| Odenton | 12,833 | 20,534 | 37,132 | 42,947 |
| Clinton | 19,987 | 26,064 | 35,970 | 38,760 |
| Oxon Hill-Glassmanor | 35,794 | 35,355 | 35,017 | 37,221 |
| Olney | 23,019 | 31,438 | 33,844 | 37,221 |
| Chillum | 31,309 | 34,252 | 33,513 | 36,039 |
| Randallstown | 26,277 | 30,870 | 32,430 | 33,655 |
| Montgomery Village | 32,315 | 38,051 | 32,032 | 34,893 |
| Suitland-Silver Hill | 35,111 | 33,515 | 31,775 | 32,220 |
| Pikesville | 24,815 | 29,123 | 30,764 | 34,168 |
| Parkville | 31,617 | 31,118 | 30,734 | 31,812 |
| Owings Mills | 9,474 | 20,193 | 30,622 | 35,674 |
| Bel Air North | 14,880 | 25,798 | 30,568 | 31,841 |
| Eldersburg | 9,720 | 27,741 | 30,531 | 32,582 |
| Carney | 25,578 | 28,264 | 29,941 | 29,363 |
| Milford Mill | 22,547 | 26,527 | 29,042 | 30,622 |
| Perry Hall | 22,723 | 28,705 | 28,474 | 29,409 |
| Crofton | 12,781 | 20,091 | 27,348 | 29,641 |
| South Laurel | 18,591 | 20,479 | 26,112 | 29,602 |
| Reisterstown | 19,314 | 22,438 | 25,968 | 26,822 |
| Edgewood | 23,903 | 23,378 | 25,562 | 25,713 |
| Lochearn | 25,240 | 25,269 | 25,333 | 25,511 |
| Middle River | 24,616 | 23,958 | 25,191 | 33,203 |
| North Potomac | 18,456 | 23,044 | 24,410 | 23,790 |
| Scaggsville | 24,333 | 9,217 | ||
| Pasadena | 24,287 | 32,979 | ||
| Fort Washington | 24,032 | 23,845 | 23,717 | 24,261 |
| Fairland | 19,828 | 21,738 | 23,681 | 25,396 |
| Ilchester | 23,476 | 26,824 | ||
| Arnold | 20,261 | 23,422 | 23,106 | 24,064 |
| Landover* | 22,900 | 23,078 | 25,998 | |
| Cockeysville | 20,776 | 24,184 | ||
| Arbutus | 19,750 | 20,116 | 20,483 | 21,655 |
| White Oak | 18,671 | 20,973 | 17,403 | 16,347 |
| Elkridge | 12,953 | 22,042 | 15,593 | 25,171 |
| North Laurel | 15,008 | 20,468 | 4,474 | 25,379 |
| St. Charles** | 28,717 | 33,379 | ||
| South Gate*** | 27,564 | 28,672 |
**(included with Waldorf for 2010 Census and beyond)
***(included with Glen Burnie for 2010 Census and beyond)
Source: Quick Facts, U.S. Census Bureau, as of April 1, 2020.
Featured photo shows the city of Baltimore, by @DronifyDMV. Information courtesy of Maryland.gov