Two deep water ports, Newport News and Baltimore, are approximately 120 miles away. Each of the towns is also served by Eastern Shore Gas Co., which operates central propane systems. For a large industrial user, the cost per therm is competitive with natural gas. All of the incorporated towns, as well as Ocean Pines and Newark, have central water and sewer systems. In West Ocean City there is a central sewer system, but with private wells.
Rural areas have individual wells and septic systems.
There are numerous sites zoned for industrial use throughout the county, ranging from one acre to one hundred acres. Pocomoke City and Worcester County have an active industrial shell building program and will build to suit. There are also no taxes on unitary profits, gross receipts or corporate franchises. A recent study found that the tax burden on business as a percentage of total tax revenue is lower in Maryland than any other state. The property tax in the county is the second lowest in the state and there are no separate school taxes.