Market rankings · Maryland
Gyms in Maryland
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Maryland, ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,569
- 447 chain locations (28%)
- Official establishments
- 704
- All fitness and recreational sports centers · −4.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $2.5B
- On memberships, classes and admissions
- Listings per 10k households
- 6.6
- 13% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.6M
- 21% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #6 of 51
- Market score 65 · Upper middle
A site report maps the gyms on map listings around any address in Maryland by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
There are 1,569 gyms on map listings in Maryland as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 28% of them, against 28% across the U.S. That comes to 6.6 for every 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 7.6.
At $1,042 per household (6% above the U.S. average), households in Maryland spend about $2.5B a year on memberships, classes and admissions. Spread across 1,569 gyms, that is $1.6M per gym, 21% above the U.S. figure of $1.3M. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only gyms.
Official counts show 704 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Maryland in 2023, down 4.2% from 2019. That is one for every 3,356 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.8% over the same years. That count covers all fitness and recreational sports centers (yoga, Pilates and fitness studios included), not only gyms. Since fiscal 2022, 83 SBA-backed loans worth $33.8M have gone to businesses classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Maryland.
Among the 50 states and DC, Maryland ranks #6 for gyms, with a Groundwork market score of 65 (upper middle). Of the 6 scored metro areas in or partly in Maryland, the Lexington Park metro area scores highest (81). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Maryland, the Cambridge area scores highest (74).
Every market in Maryland for gyms
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Maryland, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lexington Park, MD | 81 | 48 | 6.3 | $1.9M | +2.1% | #8 of 387 |
| 2Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 80 | 43 | 3.6 | $2M | +7.1% | #10 of 387 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 66 | 1,732 | 7.3 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #59 of 387 |
| 3Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 57 | 783 | 7.0 | $1.4M | +0.4% | #123 of 387 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 52 | 1,977 | 8.0 | $1.3M | +1.4% | #168 of 387 |
| 4Salisbury, MD | 52 | 31 | 6.4 | $1.1M | +2.9% | #173 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cambridge, MD | 74 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.7M | +3.4% | #28 of 506 |
| 2Ocean Pines, MD | 55 | 21 | 8.7 | $970K | +3.7% | #210 of 506 |
| 3Cumberland, MD-WV | 53 | 20 | 5.2 | $1.1M | −1.3% | #226 of 506 |
| 4Easton, MD | 34 | 24 | 14.6 | $612K | +2.0% | #423 of 506 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Charles County, MD | 89 | 37 | 6.1 | $1.9M | +5.9% | #18 of 1,792 |
| 2Queen Anne’s County, MD | 81 | 16 | 8.0 | $1.4M | +8.8% | #62 of 1,792 |
| 3Calvert County, MD | 80 | 27 | 8.1 | $1.6M | +1.7% | #71 of 1,792 |
| 4Prince George’s County, MD | 79 | 175 | 5.0 | $2M | +0.5% | #77 of 1,792 |
| 5St. Mary’s County, MD | 78 | 21 | 4.9 | $2.3M | +2.4% | #84 of 1,792 |
| 6Cecil County, MD | 74 | 25 | 6.2 | $1.4M | +3.2% | #151 of 1,792 |
| 7Frederick County, MD | 72 | 84 | 8.0 | $1.5M | +11.0% | #190 of 1,792 |
| 8Harford County, MD | 67 | 70 | 6.9 | $1.5M | +2.0% | #287 of 1,792 |
| 9Dorchester County, MD | 66 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.7M | +3.4% | #309 of 1,792 |
| 10Montgomery County, MD | 65 | 265 | 6.8 | $1.9M | +1.3% | #344 of 1,792 |
| 11Washington County, MD | 64 | 32 | 5.3 | $1.4M | +2.0% | #396 of 1,792 |
| 12Caroline County, MD | 63 | 5 | 4.0 | $1.6M | +2.5% | #417 of 1,792 |
| 13Carroll County, MD | 63 | 50 | 7.8 | $1.5M | +2.2% | #422 of 1,792 |
| 14Anne Arundel County, MD | 61 | 176 | 7.8 | $1.5M | +1.7% | #484 of 1,792 |
| 15Howard County, MD | 61 | 121 | 10.0 | $1.4M | +1.9% | #491 of 1,792 |
| 16Baltimore County, MD | 57 | 209 | 6.3 | $1.5M | −0.7% | #638 of 1,792 |
| 17Wicomico County, MD | 50 | 30 | 7.4 | $994K | +3.2% | #932 of 1,792 |
| 18Worcester County, MD | 50 | 21 | 8.7 | $970K | +3.7% | #935 of 1,792 |
| 19Baltimore city, MD | 48 | 141 | 5.5 | $1.2M | −2.3% | #981 of 1,792 |
| 20Allegany County, MD | 42 | 15 | 5.5 | $989K | −1.6% | #1,193 of 1,792 |
| 21Kent County, MD | 37 | 8 | 9.4 | $822K | +2.3% | #1,332 of 1,792 |
| 22Garrett County, MD | 32 | 11 | 8.7 | $794K | −1.5% | #1,453 of 1,792 |
| 23Talbot County, MD | 29 | 24 | 14.6 | $612K | +2.0% | #1,523 of 1,792 |
| Somerset County, MD | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $4.7M | +1.7% |
Markets with fewer than 5 gyms on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many gyms are in Maryland?
As of September 2026, map listings count 1,569 gyms in Maryland. 447 of them (28%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms and fitness centers. Official counts show 704 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, down 4.2% from 2019. The official count takes in all fitness and recreational sports centers, not only gyms: yoga, Pilates and fitness studios are counted too.
How much do households in Maryland spend on memberships, classes and admissions?
About $2.5B a year, or $1,042 per household. That is 6% above the U.S. average (an index of 106, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,569 gyms on map listings, it comes to $1.6M per gym. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which gyms share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,362,928 households in Maryland and national spending patterns by income.
How does Maryland compare with the U.S. for gyms?
Maryland has 6.6 gyms per 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 7.6. Spending per gym is $1.6M, 21% above the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the U.S. ratio of gyms to household spending, Maryland would have about 1,892, against 1,569 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 3,356 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. The official count fell 4.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.8% for the U.S.
Which market in Maryland has the highest market score for gyms?
Among 6 scored metro areas in or partly in Maryland, the Lexington Park metro area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Maryland, the Cambridge area scores highest, at 74 (upper middle). Among 23 scored counties in Maryland, Charles County scores highest, at 89 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Maryland scores 65 for gyms (upper middle), #6 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Maryland. It maps the gyms on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Gyms in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for gyms across the U.S. · All business types in Maryland
Related business types in Maryland
- Gyms, studios and classes3,208 listings
- Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios497 listings
- Martial arts and dance studios1,142 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Maryland?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.