St. Michaels: Economy & Jobs
Households in St. Michaels earn a median $78,265 (1.1× below Talbot County median $84,811; 1.3× below Maryland median $104,408), with homes at a median value of $565,600. The surrounding county supports 18,220 jobs (avg $56,684).
- $120,149 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $78,265 — below the Maryland median ($104,407). Poverty rate 5.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 33% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 7.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | very expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 14.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 33.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 5.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $20,060 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,410,195 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $120,149 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $84,131 |
| Median Household Income | $78,265 (vs Maryland $104,408) |
| Poverty Rate | 5.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Professional |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $78,265 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 18% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 17.5% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 18,220 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,032,788,859 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $56,684 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,677,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% (vs Maryland 5.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 253 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 32,115 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 126.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,478 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 17,036 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 876,020 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 10 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 10 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Home Centers | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 58 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 29 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 4 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 13 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Village Shoppe Llc |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 1 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | TALBOT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $436,652,414 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 11,636.00 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 37,526 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 73.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 5.2% |
| Pct Walked | 17.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 55.4 years (vs Maryland 39.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 53.2% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12