21702 and 21701 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
21702
21701
Opportunity
65 · Top 29%
vs66 · Top 27%
Growth
53 · Top 46%
vs53 · Top 46%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 12%
vs89 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 43%
vs86 · Top 40%
Schools
57 · Top 42%
vs61 · Top 38%
Access
80 · Bottom 21%
vs81 · Bottom 23%
Economic stability
70 · Top 30%
vs78 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 21702 | 21701 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,605 | 43,048 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $106,983 | $106,577 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,065 | $60,194 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,189/sq mi | 1,084/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $426,300 | $435,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,770 | $1,672 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 66.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 50.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 7.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 513 | 513 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.2 | 6.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -56.2% | -56.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 35.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 31.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.1 | 39.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.65 | 16.32 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 14.2% | 18.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 20.7% | 27.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 56.5% | 48.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 21702 — Frederick, MD · 21701 — Frederick, MD · How this is calculated: methodology