Signals
Frederick
Bethesda
Climate
71 · Top 49%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 13%
vs85 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 47%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Schools
58 · Top 41%
vs86 · Top 7%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
70 · Top 29%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Frederick | Bethesda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,395 | 69,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,069 | $192,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,823 | $120,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,480/sq mi | 5,233/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $401,500 | $1,169,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 | $2,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.8% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.2% | 87.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 4.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 34 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 19 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.43 | 16.97 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 16.2% | 41.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 24.2% | 59.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.0% | 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: Frederick, MD · Bethesda, MD · How this is calculated: methodology