Compare

Bethesda vs Springfield

Which is the better fit for you?

Bethesda, MD
Area Score

Missing required signals: opportunity, growth.

Springfield, VA
Area Score

Missing required signals: opportunity, growth.

Signals

Bethesda
Springfield
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs
72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience: Bethesda is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
85 · Top 17%
vs
80 · Top 24%
Housing affordability: Bethesda is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs
60 · Bottom 20%
Schools: Bethesda is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
86 · Top 6%
vs
29 · Bottom 21%
Access: Bethesda is the more favorable of the two.
Access
91 · Bottom 48%
vs
91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability: Bethesda is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
74 · Top 19%
vs
64 · Top 42%

Measured values

MetricBethesdaSpringfieldSource period
Population69,39731,1542024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$192,237$125,9992024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$120,363$52,5002024 ACS 5-Year
Population density5,233/sq mi3,971/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$1,169,900$640,3002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$2,469$2,6562024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate64.0%66.0%2024 ACS 5-Year
Bachelor's degree or higher87.1%46.9%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate4.3%8.9%2024 ACS 5-Year
Average July high90°F90°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low30°F30°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation41.8"41.8"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport19 mi19 miNASR current cycle
Average commute30.2 min31.9 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age42.841.62024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools1682024-25 school year
Students per teacher16.9712.742024-25 school year
Math proficiency41.5%36.9%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency59.9%48.4%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility14.4%71.3%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.

Your best match

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Bethesda
80
Your Score
Area Score
Springfield
66
Your Score
Area Score

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Full profiles: Bethesda, MD · Springfield, VA · How this is calculated: methodology