Silver Spring, MD vs Wheaton, MD

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricSilver Spring, MDWheaton, MD
Population81,46252,926
Median Household Income$99,860$111,478
Median Rent$1,913/mo$2,163/mo
Median Home Value$643,300$501,200
Cost of Living (US = 100)109109
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income51.6%44.6%
Poverty Rate10.6%13.1%
Unemployment Rate3.7% (county)3.7% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k167*167*
Property Crime Rate /100k1,571*1,571*
Median AQI3939
Good AQI Days /yr299299
Summer Highs85°F85°F
Winter Lows27°F29°F
Snowfall16 in/yr16 in/yr
Avg Commute34 min31.6 min
Hospitals2—
Avg Hospital Rating2.5 / 5—
Students per Teacher12.713.1
College Degree Rate60.6%38.7%
Foreign-Born %33.9%43.2%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+0.4%+3.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.
* Rate of the agency that polices both cities (the city has no police department of its own), so it isn’t scored.