Signals
Bowie
Bethesda
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 30%
vs85 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Schools
52 · Top 49%
vs86 · Top 7%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
84 · Top 3%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Bowie | Bethesda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,926 | 69,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $141,995 | $192,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,564 | $120,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,834/sq mi | 5,233/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $459,300 | $1,169,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,330 | $2,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 83.9% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 87.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 4.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.0 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.14 | 16.97 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 9.8% | 41.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.5% | 59.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 52.3% | 14.4% | 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: Bowie, MD · Bethesda, MD · How this is calculated: methodology