These MD Cities Lead The State, Nation In 2025 Holiday Spending, Report Finds

Several Maryland cities are expected to spend more on the holidays this year than most of the country, according to a new WalletHub analysis that ranked communities by their projected 2025 holiday budgets.

The personal finance website compared more than 550 U.S. cities using factors such as income, savings and debt levels to estimate how much residents can comfortably spend this holiday season.

Maryland had two towns in the top 30 cities on the list.

Ellicott City ranked No. 24 in the nation, with an estimated holiday budget of $3,136 — the highest of any city in the state. Meanwhile, Rockville ranked 30th with a budget of $3,045.

“Depending on the city, an American’s holiday budget this year can range anywhere from just over $200 to more than $4,000, taking into account residents’ income, their existing debt obligations and the cost of living," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.

Nationwide, California had six cities in the top 10 — more than any other state — with estimated holiday budgets topping out at $4,485.

WalletHub’s researchers say the Golden State’s strongest scores came from communities with high incomes relative to expenses, leaving residents more discretionary money for travel, gifts and celebrations.

However, the study also noted that high spending averages don’t necessarily reflect individual households, many of which continue to face inflation pressures and rising living costs.

Here's a look at the Maryland cities that made the list and where each ranked:

1. Ellicott City (No. 24) — $3,136
2. Rockville (No. 30) — $3,045
3. Columbia (No. 37) — $2,903
4. Germantown (No. 46) — $2,644
5. Gaithersburg (No. 51) — $2,574
6. Silver Spring (No. 92) — $2,044
7. Glen Burnie (No. 189) — $1,570
8. Waldorf (No. 259) — $1,358
9. Frederick (No. 305) — $1,268
10. Baltimore (No. 344) — $1,197

Nationally, the 10 cities with the highest estimated budgets were:

1. Palo Alto, CA — $4,485
2. Mountain View, CA — $4,266
3. Newton, MA — $4,069
4. Flower Mound, TX — $3,941
5. Kirkland, WA — $3,866
6. Milpitas, CA — $3,702
7. Sunnyvale, CA — $3,691
8. Santa Clara, CA — $3,690
9. Redwood City, CA — $3,627
10. Bellevue, WA — $3,603

WalletHub’s full report is available here.