Living in Havre de Grace, MD (2026): Neighborhoods, Schools, Waterfront and Home Prices

by Josh Tessier

Published Nov. 3, 2026 | Last updated: Nov. 3, 2026

Living in Havre de Grace, MD means a small waterfront city where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay, with a historic downtown and quick access to I-95. The typical home in the 21078 ZIP code is worth about $405,000 to $419,000, based on data through September 2026.

About 15,630 people live in the city, per the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate. It's a real city with its own mayor and city tax, so your tax bill works a little differently than in most of Harford County. Here's what you need to know before you move.

Where is Havre de Grace, MD?

Havre de Grace sits in the northeast corner of Harford County, right at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. The Susquehanna River runs along its east side. Across the river is Perryville, which is in Cecil County.

It's about 40 miles northeast of Baltimore. The city itself covers about 5.9 square miles of land. The 21078 ZIP code is bigger than the city, so some homes with a Havre de Grace address sit outside city limits.

How easy is the commute from Havre de Grace?

Pretty easy, and you have more choices than most Harford towns.

I-95: MD 155 (Level Road) runs from town to I-95 at Exit 89. That's the last I-95 exit before the highway crosses the Susquehanna.
Route 40: US 40 runs right through the city. It crosses the Susquehanna on the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge to Perryville. That bridge has a toll going east only.
MARC train: The MARC Penn Line stops at Aberdeen, next door, and at Perryville, just over the bridge. Perryville is the last stop at the north end of the line. Trains run south to Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station.
Amtrak: The closest Amtrak station is in Aberdeen, at 18 East Bel Air Avenue. Amtrak trains cross the river at Havre de Grace but don't stop in town.

The average commute for city residents is 28 minutes, per the Census Bureau. If you work at Aberdeen Proving Ground, you're close.

What are the neighborhoods like in Havre de Grace?

Havre de Grace has three main flavors: old homes downtown, a big golf community and newer townhomes off Route 40.

Two-story yellow wood house with a white wraparound front porch under tall shade trees in Havre de Grace, MD — *Older wood homes with big front porches are common in Havre de Grace's historic district.*
Photo: Havre de Grace, Maryland by Dougtone, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Taken Oct. 2012. Cropped.

The historic district and downtown

Most of the older part of town is a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It has about 1,000 buildings, including the downtown business area and the streets of homes around it. You'll see a lot of 1800s and early 1900s homes in brick and wood, including plenty of Victorians.

This is the walkable part of town. You can stroll to the water, shops and restaurants. Old homes have charm, but they also have old-home stuff. Get a good inspection, and ask about the roof, wiring and windows.

Bulle Rock

Bulle Rock is a large gated community next to the Bulle Rock Golf Club. Its 37,000-square-foot Residents' Club has a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and clubs and classes. There are also tennis and pickleball courts and miles of walking trails.

You'll find single-family homes, villas and condos here. Ward Communities is building single-family homes starting at $529,990, and those are open to buyers of all ages. The Overlook condos have one building, Building 5, that is limited to buyers 55 and older. Expect an HOA fee, and ask what it covers.

Greenway Farm

Greenway Farm is a newer community off Route 40, next to Bulle Rock. D.R. Horton is selling 4-bedroom townhomes with 2-car garages there, starting at $359,990. Builder prices change often, so check the builder's site for today's number.

How much do homes cost in Havre de Grace, MD?

The typical home in 21078 is worth about $405,000 to $419,000 right now. Each source counts a little differently, so here they are side by side.

Source	What it measures	Price	vs. a year ago	Speed
Redfin (21078)	Median sale price, 3 months ending Sept. 2026	$418,872	Up 2.2%	41 median days on market (was 42)
Zillow (21078)	Typical home value (ZHVI), Sept. 30, 2026	$404,556	Up 0.6%	Not given
Realtor.com (city)	Median listing price, Oct. 2026	$449,970	About flat	39 median days on market

Here's the quick version. Prices are up a little from last year. Homes take about five or six weeks to sell. Redfin counted 100 homes sold in 21078 in September, up from 85 a year ago, and about 31% sold over asking.

So the market is steady, not frantic. Homes here sit about twice as long as in Fallston, where Redfin's median was 19 days for the same three months. That can mean a little more room to negotiate. But the best homes near the water still go fast.

The Census Bureau puts the median value of an owner's home in the city at $392,900, based on its 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of city homes are owner-occupied.

What are property taxes in Havre de Grace, MD?

This part matters. Havre de Grace is an incorporated city, so homes inside city limits pay a city tax on top of county and state tax.

For July 2026 to June 2027, the rates per $100 of assessed value are:

City of Havre de Grace: $0.565
Harford County (inside a city or town): $0.8413
State of Maryland: $0.112
Total inside the city: $1.5183

On a home assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,073 a year before any credits.

Outside city limits, there's no city tax. The total there is $1.0899 per $100, or about $4,360 a year on the same $400,000 home. The city tax pays for city services, like city police, so it's not a straight swap.

Remember that a 21078 address doesn't always mean city limits. Look up the exact home on the Maryland SDAT real property search before you budget.

Havre de Grace also caps how much the taxable value of your main home can go up each year for city taxes, at 5%. You have to apply once for Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit to get it.

Which schools serve Havre de Grace, MD?

These Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) have Havre de Grace addresses:

Havre de Grace Elementary, 600 S. Juniata St.
Meadowvale Elementary, 910 Graceview Drive
Roye-Williams Elementary, 201 Oakington Road
Havre de Grace Middle and High, 445 Lewis Lane

Havre de Grace Middle and High take kids from four elementary schools: Churchville, Darlington, Havre de Grace and Meadowvale. Roye-Williams has a Havre de Grace address, but it feeds Aberdeen Middle and High. So two homes a mile apart can go to different schools.

School lines are also moving. HCPS planned new elementary lines starting in the 2026-27 school year. One undeveloped area near Blenheim Lane is set to move from the Havre de Grace middle and high school area to Aberdeen.

So before you fall for a house, put the address into the HCPS School Locator. It takes one minute.

What is there to do on the water in Havre de Grace?

This is the best part of living here.

The Promenade. It's a waterfront boardwalk of about three-quarters of a mile. It runs past the Decoy Museum, the Maritime Museum and Concord Point Lighthouse.
Concord Point Lighthouse, 714 Concord St. It was built in 1827, and it turns 200 in 2027. It's closed to visitors November through March and opens again in April.
Tydings Park, 352 Commerce St. It sits at the start of the Promenade, next to the City Yacht Basin. It has a playground, picnic areas, grills and pickleball courts.
Susquehanna State Park, 4122 Wilkinson Road. Head here for trails, mountain biking, a campground and the Rock Run Grist Mill. One trail footbridge near Stafford Flint Furnace is closed for storm damage, so check the state park page before you go.

The city's tourism office says Havre de Grace has more than 3,000 acres of state, county and local parkland. That's a lot of backyard for a small city.

Where do Havre de Grace folks eat and hang out?

Downtown is the hangout. For a meal with a view, Tidewater Grille sits right on the river at 300 Franklin St. Its site lists hours seven days a week.

Love local history? The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum shows off the town's duck-decoy-carving roots. And the city goes all out for the season. See my Havre de Grace holiday events guide.

For bigger stores, Aberdeen is right next door on Route 40.

Is Havre de Grace, MD a good place to live?

It depends on what you want. Here's my honest take.

Havre de Grace could be a great fit if you want:

Water views, a boardwalk and a lighthouse in your own town
A walkable downtown with old homes full of character
Easy access to I-95, Route 40, MARC and Amtrak
Prices that run lower than nearby Forest Hill and Fallston

Check these before you buy:

Whether the home is inside city limits, since that changes your tax bill
Your school assignment, by exact address
HOA fees and rules in places like Bulle Rock
The age and condition of any older home in the historic district

Also comparing nearby areas? Check out Aberdeen and my guide to living in Forest Hill, or start with my Harford County blog.

Thinking about a move to Havre de Grace? Text me at (443) 617-2099. Happy to help.

FAQ

What is the median home price in Havre de Grace, MD?

About $405,000 to $419,000. Redfin put the 21078 median sale price at $418,872 for the three months ending September 2026. Zillow put the typical 21078 home value at $404,556 as of Sept. 30, 2026.

What is the property tax rate in Havre de Grace, MD?

For July 2026 to June 2027, homes inside city limits pay $1.5183 per $100 of assessed value. That is the city rate of $0.565, the Harford County rate of $0.8413 and the state rate of $0.112. Homes outside city limits pay $1.0899 per $100.

What schools serve Havre de Grace, MD?

Havre de Grace Elementary, Meadowvale Elementary, Roye-Williams Elementary and Havre de Grace Middle and High all have Havre de Grace addresses. Roye-Williams feeds Aberdeen Middle and High. Check any address with the HCPS School Locator.

Is there a train station in Havre de Grace?

No. The closest MARC Penn Line stops are Aberdeen and Perryville, and the closest Amtrak station is Aberdeen. Perryville is just across the river in Cecil County.

Is Bulle Rock a 55+ community?

Not all of it. The Ward Communities single-family homes at Bulle Rock are open to buyers of all ages. Building 5 at the Overlook condos is limited to buyers 55 and older.

How many people live in Havre de Grace, MD?

About 15,630, based on the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate. The 2020 Census counted 14,807.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTORÂ® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has 16+ years in real estate and has sold 600+ homes personally (5,900+ for the Lee Tessier Team). He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here.