Signals
Bethesda
Arlington
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 17%
vs84 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 36%
vs67 · Bottom 29%
Schools
86 · Top 7%
vs65 · Top 34%
Access
91 · Bottom 48%
vs92 · Top 50%
Economic stability
74 · Top 19%
vs73 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Bethesda | Arlington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 69,397 | 236,254 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $192,237 | $142,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $120,363 | $90,786 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,233/sq mi | 9,088/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,169,900 | $895,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,469 | $2,322 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.0% | 41.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 87.1% | 77.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 7.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.8 | 35.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 16 | 42 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.97 | 14.47 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.5% | 62.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 59.9% | 74.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 14.4% | 30.8% | 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.
Maryland and Virginia do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.
Physical risk tradeoff
Bethesda
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Arlington
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Full profiles: Bethesda, MD · Arlington, VA · How this is calculated: methodology