Signals
Waldorf
Bethesda
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 10%
vs85 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 36%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Schools
23 · Bottom 14%
vs86 · Top 7%
Access
79 · Bottom 21%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
77 · Top 13%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Waldorf | Bethesda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,943 | 69,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $116,089 | $192,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,929 | $120,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,289/sq mi | 5,233/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $407,600 | $1,169,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,995 | $2,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 87.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 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 | 37 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 44.6 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.1 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.01 | 16.97 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 5.7% | 41.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 13.2% | 59.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 56.9% | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Waldorf
Elevated or high exposure: drought.
Bethesda
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Waldorf, MD · Bethesda, MD · How this is calculated: methodology