West Ocean City is home to 5,198 people in Maryland. At a median age of 49.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 1,887 people. That puts it in the top 8% of US cities for household income. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. 4% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $97,165, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about West Ocean City
What changed most since 1990
Population2,000 → 5,198(+160%)US over the same years: +35%
White share98.7% → 89.0%(−9.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median age40.3 → 49.5(+9.2 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
West Ocean City's population equals 9.7% of Worcester County's. Its number of households without a car equals 3.8% of the county's. Its number of people who work from home equals 5.0% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)33%(115)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32.8%(114)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.1%(122)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.6%(9)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 348 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
West Ocean City, decade by decade
West Ocean City population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
2,000
$75,919
$258,967
23.8%
3.3
2000
3,311
$77,018
$275,070
20.7%
12.7
2010
4,375
$100,186
$513,857
28.0%
16.7
2020
4,952
$109,600
$400,094
32.4%
24.0
2024
5,198
$97,165
$423,700
38.2%
25.4
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
