City Score: Welcome, MD

The score

Welcome, MD scores 43 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 51 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 32 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Partly Maryland state-wide (3 of 4 indexes)

Read state-wide: Maryland

State-wide for Marriage & family and Liberty: the numbers for Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Maryland as a whole, not by city, so every Maryland city carries Maryland's numbers.

Maryland scores 39 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 43 · Movement 33).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Maryland city reaches Maryland's officials, and Maryland's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for Maryland in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 34 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 168 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 192 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 272 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 60 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Welcome, MD

• What Welcome is up against: 54 out of 100 — Better than 38% of cities, up 15 points
• Where grace is growing: 31 out of 100 — Better than 53% of cities (From Charles County, MD)
• Marriage & family: 64 out of 100 — Better than 72% of cities, up 21 points (Maryland state-wide)
• Christian liberty: 63 out of 100 — Better than 65% of cities, up 17 points (Maryland state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Welcome, MD

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Welcome, MD rates 48 out of 100: Stirring across 8 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 18 out of 100, Barren

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (398.6 adherents per 1,000 residents, Charles County, MD). From Charles County, MD. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (34 prayer gatherings, 168 ways to serve, and 192 gatherings).

The Family: 62 out of 100, Steadfast

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (77.5 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Charles County, MD). Maryland state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (60 Bible studies).

Education: 43 out of 100, Searching

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (1 0-2, Maryland). Maryland state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (60 Bible studies).

Government: 65 out of 100, Just

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (50.6 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Maryland). Maryland state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 32 out of 100.

Media: 46 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.5 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Maryland). Maryland state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 16 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 25 out of 100, Worldly

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. Key measure: Adult entertainment outlets (0.1 mapped places per 100,000, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area). From the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area. The church's movement in it this week: 16 out of 100.

Business: 63 out of 100, Generous

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (2.8 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Charles County, MD). From the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100.

Compassion: 60 out of 100, Stirring

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (10.8 deaths per 100,000, Charles County, MD). From the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (168 ways to serve).

What takes Welcome, MD to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 2 → 40
• Unity: Unity 12 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This week: Unity down 5 — 272 churches listed
• This quarter: Anti-Christian hate crimes up 59 percentile points (Christian liberty)
• This quarter: Drug overdose deaths up 55 percentile points (What Welcome is up against)
• This quarter: Children with married parents up 32 percentile points (Marriage & family)

Welcome, MD over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Charles County Sheriff's Office · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Charles County Sheriff's Office · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · 24017 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Charles County, MD · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Maryland · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Maryland · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Maryland · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Maryland · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Maryland · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Welcome, MD, Maryland, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare Welcome, MD

• Welcome, MD vs Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia, PA scores 32)
• Welcome, MD vs Baltimore, MD (Baltimore, MD scores 32)
• Welcome, MD vs Hagerstown, MD (Hagerstown, MD scores 33)
• Welcome, MD vs Lexington Park, MD (Lexington Park, MD scores 42)
• Welcome, MD vs Salisbury, MD (Salisbury, MD scores 33)

Every indicator

What Welcome is up against — 54 out of 100

• Violent crime: 273.4 offences per 100,000, better than 32% of cities, down 2 points · 2025, Charles County Sheriff's Office · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 943.9 offences per 100,000, better than 54% of cities, down 8 points · 2025, Charles County Sheriff's Office · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 10.8 deaths per 100,000, better than 88% of cities, up 55 points · 2025, Charles County, MD · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, Maryland · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: 0.1 mapped places per 100,000, better than 13% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: 0.1 mapped places per 100,000, better than 37% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: 1.4 mapped places per 100,000, better than 29% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: 17.8 mapped places per 100,000, better than 37% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: 1.3 mapped places per 100,000, better than 53% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): 0.0 mapped facilities per 100,000 (a floor), better than 17% of cities · 2026-10, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 31 out of 100

• Church adherents: 398.6 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 32% of cities · 2020, Charles County, MD · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 8.7 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 10% of cities · 2020, Charles County, MD · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 2.8 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 99% of cities · 2023, Charles County, MD · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 24017 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 24017 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 24017 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 24017 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 24017 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, 24017 (1 city summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 0 per million residents, better than 33% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 64 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 77.5 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 78% of cities, up 32 points · 2020-2024, Charles County, MD · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 50.1 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 49% of cities, up 16 points · 2020-2024, Charles County, MD · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 6.2 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 58% of cities · 2020-2024, Charles County, MD · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 14.6 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 36% of cities · 2020-2024, Maryland · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 30.0 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 32% of cities · 2020-2024, Maryland · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 63 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 50.6 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 73% of cities, down 4 points · 2026, Maryland · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 8 of the edition's safeguards, better than 70% of cities · 2026, Maryland · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 0 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 20% of cities · 2026, Maryland · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.0 incidents per 100,000, better than 76% of cities, up 59 points · 2025, Maryland · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 1 0-2, better than 54% of cities · 2026, Maryland · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, better than 29% of cities · 2026, Maryland · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 1 0-2, better than 31% of cities · 2026, Maryland · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.5 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 46% of cities · 2026-11, Maryland · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Welcome, MD, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/welcome-md/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
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