Maryland is a fascinating mix — part East Coast hustle, part Mid-Atlantic charm, part “yes we will argue about who has the best crab cake.” It has beaches, mountains, booming suburbs, and cities filled with history. But even with all that, more Marylanders in 2026 are looking at their tax bill, their commute, and their ever-increasing rent and saying, “Okay, but why does it cost this much just to exist here?”
Here are the 14 brutally honest, actually true reasons people are packing up and leaving the Old Line State this year.
1. The Cost of Living Is Getting Out of Hand
Maryland is one of the most expensive states in the country — high housing costs, high groceries, high everything.
2. Housing Prices Are Sky High
Especially in Montgomery, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties, prices have climbed so far that many locals can’t compete.
3. Taxes Are Brutal
Maryland has one of the highest tax burdens nationwide — income tax, property tax, sales tax… it adds up fast.
4. Traffic Is a Daily Nightmare
The Baltimore-DC corridor is infamous for congestion. I-95, the Beltway, Route 50 — name a road, it’s probably jammed.
5. Job Competition Is Fierce
Government, military, biotech, and defense jobs bring talent from everywhere, making the job market highly competitive.
6. Crime Concerns in Baltimore
While improving slowly, many neighborhoods still experience high crime rates, pushing families to the suburbs or out of state.
7. Rising Rent Everywhere
Even traditionally affordable areas have rising rent — squeezing younger residents and families.
8. Education Inequality
Some districts are top-tier; others struggle. Families who can’t afford the “good school districts” often relocate entirely.
9. Limited Space & Overcrowding
Maryland is small and densely populated — many feel overwhelmed by development and shrinking green space.
10. Summer Humidity Is Not for the Weak
Maryland summers feel like a hot, wet blanket you didn’t ask for. Some folks simply tap out.
11. Bay Pollution & Environmental Concerns
Chesapeake Bay pollution, flooding, and coastal erosion push some residents to higher-ground states.
12. Cost of Doing Business
High taxes and strict regulations push companies — and jobs — to states like Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida.
13. Property Taxes Keep Rising
Even modest homes come with hefty tax bills that keep growing each year.
14. People Want More Affordable, Less Stressful Living
With lower-cost states nearby offering more house for less money, many Marylanders take the leap…