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Living in
Bethesda.
Bethesda is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Bethesda
This is one of the wealthiest and most educated communities in the country, with a median household income around $191,000 and nearly 87% of residents holding college degrees. If you work in government, medicine, research, or finance, the job market here is strong, and the Metro Red Line provides direct access downtown—though your 28-minute commute could easily stretch longer depending on where you're headed. The catch is cost: median home prices hover around $1.13 million and rent runs $2,400+ monthly, which means this isn't the place to move for affordability.
Bethesda at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Foreign-Born
26.2%
Broadband Internet
97.0%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics26.2% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Bethesda: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bethesda, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (7.0%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.3%
of households
Married Couples
55.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 45% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Bethesda
In Bethesda, rent runs 45% above the MD average, and home values are 179% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
64.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,126,394 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Bethesda and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Montgomery County, which includes Bethesda, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Bethesda: Montgomery County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Montgomery County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Bethesda Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute27.7 min avg
How Bethesda residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bethesda, most residents drive alone to work (40%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Montgomery County Police Department, which covers Bethesda, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
167.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,571.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Montgomery County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Montgomery County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Montgomery County, which includes Bethesda, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Winter Weather | $1.4M |
| 2024 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.7M |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12.9M |
| 2022 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.6M |
| 2021 | 48 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.8M |
| 2020 | 53 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2019 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 48 | Flood | $100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Bethesda, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
61
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bethesda has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
5.8"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
95
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.32" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 3.24" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.15" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 3.53" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.24" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 5.11" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.42" |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.54" |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 4.40" |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.32" |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.81" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bethesda
Bethesda has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Suburban Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Walter Reed National Military Med Cen
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Psychiatric Institute of Washington
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · Washington
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Washington
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.8 mi away · Silver Spring
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bethesda
Bethesda's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 87.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
17
within city limits
College Degree Rate
87.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bethesda (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland Global Campus
14.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 49,664 students · in-state tuition $8,280 · 32% graduate · median earnings $68,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Northern Virginia Community College
13 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,182 students · in-state tuition $70,170 · 86% graduate · median earnings $96,691 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,108 students · in-state tuition $38,936 · 69% graduate · median earnings $69,682 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Clara Barton National Historic Site, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bethesda
Bethesda has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Clara Barton National Historic Site (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Clara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
3 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
3 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
3 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
4 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
6 mi awayCarter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayMary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bethesda
Connie Morella(Bethesda) Branch
7400 Arlington Blvd., Bethesda
Little Falls Branch
5501 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda
Cities Near Bethesda
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bethesda?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bethesda FAQ
Is Bethesda, Maryland affordable?⌄
Bethesda's median rent is $2,469/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $192,237/year. Median home value is $1,169,900.
Is Bethesda, Maryland safe?⌄
Bethesda is policed by the Montgomery County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1571 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
Montgomery County, which includes Bethesda, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Bethesda is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,469/month and median household income is $192,237/year. The median home value is $1,169,900. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Bethesda is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from