Frostburg is a historic mining village turned college town
Up in the Appalachians of western Maryland, the city of Frostburg is a rural mountain town home to just over 7,000 full-time residents. The area is known for its scenic location, defining history and a sense of community. “Frostburg has a lot of small-town charm and local activity; you still see holiday parades go down Main Street and story time hosted at the library,” says Jennifer "Jenny" Jackson, a Frostburg resident and local Realtor with Charis Realty Group. “There’s a lot of community involvement here.” The city has roots in the early 19th century, and it developed as a coal mining town along the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad. As the coal industry waned, the town moved to recenter the economy around Frostburg State University. “I think a lot of people would consider it a college town because of the university,” Jackson says.
Home options range from fixer-uppers to custom estates
Many housing styles are found in Frostburg. Ranch-style, Cape Cod, Craftsmen and homes with traditional architecture are among the most common. Though most of the housing stock comprises single-family homes, there are also townhouses and duplexes. The community is evenly split between homeowners and renters. Fixer-upper homes can cost as low as $40,000, but most move-in-ready single-family homes cost between approximately $100,000 and $450,000. A handful of larger, custom-built homes have sold for as much as $580,000. Multifamily homes can range from $50,000 for a single duplex or townhome to over $700,000 for a building with several units. Many of these multifamily properties attract college students attending Frostburg State University.
Education through county schools and Frostburg State University
Frostburg students are zoned for Allegany County Public Schools, which receives an overall B rating from Niche. Frost Elementary, rated A-minus, and the B-rated Beall Elementary are both in town and serve prekindergarten through fifth grade. Students in grades six through eight can head to the B-rated Mount Savage Middle School, while older students wrap up their education at Mountain Ridge High School, rated B-minus. The high school offers more than 20 student organizations and clubs, including mock trial, newspaper and orchestra. Frostburg State University sits at the center of town on a 260-acre campus. Reporting a total enrollment of just over 4,000 students for the Fall 2024 semester, the university is the only four-year higher education institution in the state’s Appalachian Highlands region. “Education is one of the more popular programs available at FSU,” Jackson says.
Parks, trails and a scenic railroad draw locals and visitors
There are abundant outdoor recreation amenities in and around Frostburg, including nearly 150 acres of city parkland. The Parris N. Glendening Recreation Complex has athletic facilities, and East End Park has a playground. Frostburg Community Park also has athletic fields and a playground, plus a large community swimming pool and picnic pavilions. Jackson says hiking and biking trails weave through Frostburg, including the Great Allegheny Passage, which starts in Pittsburg, merges into the C&O Canal Trail in nearby Cumberland, and then continues to Washington, D.C. “Another huge thing here is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad,” Jackson says. “It’s probably our most popular attraction, drawing in tons of out-of-towners.”
Main Street has local shopping and dining
Frostburg has convenient shopping and dining in town, both downtown and in several shopping centers. “Downtown Frostburg is really just Main Street,” Jackson says. “It’s full of your typical local shops, restaurants and bars, many of which have been around for decades.” She names Giuseppe’s, an Italian eatery, and Sand Springs Saloon & Steakhouse as the two most popular restaurants in town. Frostburg Shopping Center has a Goodwill, Dollar Tree and salons. Weis Markets has groceries. Fast-food chains and convenience stores with gas stations are also scattered across town. Cumberland has a larger selection of big-box stores and national retailers 8 miles away.
Getting around Allegany County
Frostburg does not have a public transit system, but drivers have easy access to Interstate 68, also known as the National Freeway, and Route 40, an alternative highway. Greater Cumberland Regional Airport is less than 20 minutes away, and for a wider range of flights, Dulles International Airport is a about 140 miles away. UPMC Western Maryland is a general hospital with a 24-hour emergency department approximately 12 miles away.
