Signals
Bowie
Frederick
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs64 · Top 33%
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs71 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 30%
vs89 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs78 · Bottom 47%
Schools
52 · Top 49%
vs58 · Top 41%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs82 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
84 · Top 3%
vs70 · Top 29%
Measured values
| Metric | Bowie | Frederick | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,926 | 83,395 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $141,995 | $97,069 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,564 | $49,823 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,834/sq mi | 3,480/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $459,300 | $401,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,330 | $1,764 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 83.9% | 58.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 43.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 9.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 35.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 32.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.0 | 37.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.14 | 15.43 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 9.8% | 16.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.5% | 24.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 52.3% | 51.0% | 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 · Frederick, MD · How this is calculated: methodology