La Plata, MD: Local News, Events & Neighbors

La Plata ( lə-PLAY-tə) is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How La Plata ranks

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#2Most new homes in MD #25Highest graduation rate in MD #53Fastest growing in MD All MD rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code20646

Area code301, 240

Living in La Plata

Housing in La Plata

$479K▼ 0.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical La Plata home is worth about $479,000, down 0.6% in a year, 12% above the Maryland typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market46

Sale-to-list100.3%

Sold in May18

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in La Plata

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

La Plata reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 61% report less. Within Maryland, it does better than 61% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

La Plata 1.5

Maryland 3.7

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

La Plata 13.3

Maryland 18.5

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in La Plata

Compared with Maryland

2better than MD

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.9%Fewer uninsured adultsMD 8.7% · better 8.2%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethMD 9.9% · better

Care nearby

University of Md Charles Regional Medical CenterLa Plata · 1 mi · ER

Greater Baden Medical Service at La PlataLa Plata · 1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for La Plata · CMS · HRSAHealth in La Plata →

Schools in La Plata

All La Plata schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools La Plata’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 60% of Maryland’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#56Best public schoolsof 235 in MD

DistrictCharles County Public SchoolsSchools8

Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 663 students Mary H. Matula Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 610 students F. B. Gwynn Educational CenterElementary · Grades PK–8 Archbishop Neale SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 312 students Grace Lutheran SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 282 students Milton M. Somers Middle School BMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 671 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MD. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from La PlataWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in La Plata.Meet them →

Where La Plata is

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Locator map of La Plata — Wikimedia Commons · Map: Arkyan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

Maryland · MDTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →

Nearby towns

Port Tobacco Village4 mi Indian Head11 mi Eagle Harbor15 mi Quantico17 mi Forest Heights18 mi Occoquan18 mi Dumfries19 mi Colonial Beach20 mi Alexandria20 mi Morningside20 mi

How things work in La Plata

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Town hall & decisionsTrash, recycling & yard wasteUtilities & servicesStreets, parking & getting aroundSafety & preparednessSchools & learningParks, sports & recreationHealth & emergency care