Research · updated 2026-08-27 · download the county-level CSV
Maryland Well Depth & Drilling Cost Index
Drilling a private water well in Maryland means paying by the foot — so the two questions every well owner asks are how deep and how much. We computed both for all 24 counties with enough records to be reliable, from 26,203 official USGS NWIS well records.
Statewide, the median well reaches 140 ft, and a complete system — drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, and hookup — typically runs $8,400–$14,000. But the county spread is large:
Deepest counties to drill in Maryland
| County | Median depth | Typical depth range | Complete system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's | 374 ft | 248 ft–607 ft | $22,440–$37,400 |
| St. Mary's | 350 ft | 280 ft–435 ft | $21,000–$35,000 |
| Calvert | 324 ft | 250 ft–420 ft | $19,440–$32,400 |
| Charles | 285 ft | 29 ft–492 ft | $17,100–$28,500 |
| Dorchester | 271 ft | 64 ft–452 ft | $16,260–$27,100 |
Most expensive counties to drill in Maryland
| County | Complete system | Drilling & casing only | Median depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's | $22,440–$37,400 | $9,350–$24,310 | 374 ft |
| St. Mary's | $21,000–$35,000 | $8,750–$22,750 | 350 ft |
| Calvert | $19,440–$32,400 | $8,100–$21,060 | 324 ft |
| Charles | $17,100–$28,500 | $7,125–$18,525 | 285 ft |
| Dorchester | $16,260–$27,100 | $6,775–$17,615 | 271 ft |
Download the full county table (CSV)
How to read this
- Depth is measured; cost is modeled. Depths are the median of recorded drilled depths per county. Cost applies published Maryland per-foot drilling rates to that local median depth — a planning estimate, not a quote. Actual bids vary with geology, casing, site access, and water depth.
- Counties below 30 records are excluded so a thin sample can't produce a misleading superlative.
- Records are drilling events from the state database, which include some replacement and abandoned wells; deeper counties reflect real local geology (bedrock, aquifer depth).
Sources & methodology
- Maryland well records: USGS NWIS (refreshed weekly; see our general methodology).
- Percentiles (p25/median/p75) computed per county; cost from published per-foot rate ranges applied to the local median depth.
The county table is free to use with attribution to Maryland Well Data (marylandwelldata.com). For a specific county, a custom cut, or the underlying records, email — usually same-day.
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