Arbutus is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 20,483 at the 2010 census. The census area also contains the communities of Halethorpe and Relay, in which all three names were used during the 1960 census when the area had a population of 22,402.

Arbutus is located at 39°14′40″N 76°41′38″W / 39.24444°N 76.69389°W / 39.24444; -76.69389 (39.244406, −76.693928).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.5 square miles (17 km²), all land.

Herbert Run, a stream, runs through Arbutus and surrounding areas which splits, and becomes Herbert Run East and West.

The original Relay was an important station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was where traffic from Baltimore merged with that from Washington, before continuing west along the railroad's main line towards Wheeling, West Virginia (prior to 1863, Virginia). It was also a key junction for the railroad's telegraph system (the first major system in the country). The Thomas Viaduct is also located in Relay. The bridge is now operated by CSX Transportation, which acquired the B&O in 1987.

As of the 2020 census, Arbutus had a population of 21,655. The median age was 35.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.9 males age 18 and over.

99.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 8,269 households in Arbutus, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.1% were married-couple households, 21.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.