Signals
Bowie
Silver Spring
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 30%
vs85 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs58 · Bottom 18%
Schools
52 · Top 49%
vs80 · Top 13%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs89 · Bottom 39%
Economic stability
84 · Top 3%
vs72 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Bowie | Silver Spring | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,926 | 81,462 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $141,995 | $99,860 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,564 | $57,635 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,834/sq mi | 10,334/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $459,300 | $643,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,330 | $1,913 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 83.9% | 38.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 60.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 10.6% | 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 | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 36.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.0 | 35.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.14 | 14.39 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 9.8% | 23.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.5% | 41.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 52.3% | 44.7% | 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.
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Bowie
75
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Silver Spring
76
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Full profiles: Bowie, MD · Silver Spring, MD · How this is calculated: methodology