Wheaton, MD vs Silver Spring, MD

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

MetricWheaton, MDSilver Spring, MD
Population52,92681,462
Median Household Income$111,478$99,860
Median Rent$2,163/mo$1,913/mo
Median Home Value$501,200$643,300
Cost of Living (US = 100)109109
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income44.6%51.6%
Poverty Rate13.1%10.6%
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 Lows29°F27°F
Snowfall16 in/yr16 in/yr
Avg Commute31.6 min34 min
Hospitals—2
Avg Hospital Rating—2.5 / 5
Students per Teacher13.112.7
College Degree Rate38.7%60.6%
Foreign-Born %43.2%33.9%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+3.9%+0.4%

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.