Signals
Merrifield
Gaithersburg
Opportunity
60 · Top 42%
vs56 · Bottom 49%
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs74 · Top 31%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 21%
vs85 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 38%
vs75 · Bottom 41%
Access
96 · Top 31%
vs91 · Bottom 46%
Economic stability
83 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Merrifield | Gaithersburg | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,698 | 69,825 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $136,373 | $112,467 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $73,653 | $54,861 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,669/sq mi | 6,754/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $660,800 | $496,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,368 | $2,058 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 39.1% | 50.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.2% | 52.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 43.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 32.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.6 | 37.8 | 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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Merrifield
77
Your Score
—
Area Score
Gaithersburg
71
Your Score
68
Area Score
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Full profiles: Merrifield, VA · Gaithersburg, MD · How this is calculated: methodology