Signals
Silver Spring
Bethesda
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 18%
vs85 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
58 · Bottom 18%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Schools
80 · Top 13%
vs86 · Top 7%
Access
89 · Bottom 39%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
72 · Top 25%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Silver Spring | Bethesda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,462 | 69,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $99,860 | $192,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $57,635 | $120,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 10,334/sq mi | 5,233/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $643,300 | $1,169,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,913 | $2,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 38.3% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 87.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 4.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 36.7 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.39 | 16.97 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.7% | 41.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 41.2% | 59.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 44.7% | 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.
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Silver Spring
76
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Bethesda
80
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Full profiles: Silver Spring, MD · Bethesda, MD · How this is calculated: methodology