Signals
Gaithersburg
Lorton
Opportunity
56 · Bottom 49%
vs59 · Top 44%
Climate
74 · Top 31%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 17%
vs80 · Top 24%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs74 · Bottom 39%
Access
91 · Bottom 46%
vs89 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
72 · Top 24%
vs66 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Gaithersburg | Lorton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 69,825 | 20,991 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $112,467 | $138,685 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $54,861 | $54,550 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,754/sq mi | 3,940/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $496,500 | $626,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,058 | $2,548 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 50.8% | 64.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.5% | 60.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 7.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 33.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.8 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Your best match
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Gaithersburg
71
Your Score
68
Area Score
Lorton
73
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Gaithersburg, MD · Lorton, VA · How this is calculated: methodology