AreaScoop
La Plata, MD

Photo: Wikipedia

La Plata, MD

Find The Best Places To Live
in La Plata

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.

Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 66
Population10,470
Foreign Born4.5%
Population Density1,312people per mi²
Median Age41.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

134/100

34% above national average

B+

The Real Cost of Living in La Plata, Maryland

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $24k$44k
Comfortable $79k$116k
Luxury $154k+$239k+
Elite (Top 5%) $181k+$281k+
Affordability Ratio

105%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean83%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
20
Positive
20
Poor
2
Negative
4

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.6mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.5mi

Hospital

12 within 20 miles

0.5mi

Airport

DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National

22.3mi

Post Office

USPS — La Plata, MD

0.8mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf1Nearest 3.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 3.7 mi
Marina1Nearest 7.2 mi
Winery0Nearest 10.7 mi
Ice Rink0Nearest 17.2 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 6.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B-
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$122k+4.0%
62% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.7M
156% above US avg
College Educated
33.9%
3% below US avg
WFH
16.8%
17% above US avg
Homeownership
77.5%
19% above US avg
Median Home
$405k
44% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
21.7
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+74.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+42.7%
Homicide*
0.05 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery*
0.84 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault*
2.34 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr+106.0%
Burglary*
1.64 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft*
13.30 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
3.15 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+17Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for La Plata, Maryland
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D+
Poor11.3% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (8% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season231 days300 frost-free
Annual Rainfall58.0"
Elevation207 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor218 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,312/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B+
Fair26 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
B-
FairInland Flooding, Hurricane, Heat Wave, Strong Wind, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 324 mi · coast 96 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$22.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityWashington690k people are 26 mi away
Nearest Major AirportDCA22 mi away
Distance to State Capital40 miAnnapolis, MD
Nearest Prison19 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T01:05:53.000Z

What your realtor won't tell you!

Find the best place to live

Go beyond the listing to get the inside scoop on any home in the US.

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.