© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Damascus.
Damascus 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 Damascus
Living in Damascus means embracing a genuinely rural pocket of Montgomery County that's becoming less rural by the year—about 51% of residents have college degrees, and the median household income sits at about $159,000, which tells you this is a solidly affluent community attracting families willing to trade urban convenience for space and quieter living. The trade-off is real: your commute to jobs in the DC metro area averages nearly 38 minutes, and you'll absolutely need a car, but you're paying significantly less for housing than closer-in suburbs while getting actual views of the Appalachian Mountains on clear days and the highest average snowfall in the county (32 inches annually, sometimes much more). Summers are warm and humid with pleasant mornings in the mid-60s, though you'll get your share of thunderstorms June through August and occasional heat waves pushing into the 90s; winters are cooler than lower elevations, and while snow comes and goes most years, severe winters can leave the ground frozen for weeks—this is real seasonal weather, not the mild stuff downhill.
Damascus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
19.5%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
+10.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.5% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Damascus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Damascus, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (28.3%), and 16.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.1%
of households
Married Couples
65.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.99
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 about average for MD
Rent, home values, and income in Damascus
In Damascus, home values are 26% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,393
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $550,423 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Damascus and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Montgomery County, which includes Damascus, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Damascus: Montgomery County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Montgomery County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Damascus is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Damascus 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
Commute37.6 min avg
How Damascus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Damascus, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 37% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M 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 Damascus, 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 Damascus, 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
Damascus is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Damascus, 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
Damascus is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Damascus has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.9"
Annual Snowfall
31.4"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
98
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 25°F | 3.41" |
| Feb | 43°F | 26°F | 2.98" |
| Mar | 52°F | 33°F | 4.04" |
| Apr | 64°F | 43°F | 3.62" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 4.35" |
| Jun | 80°F | 62°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 83°F | 65°F | 4.18" |
| Sep | 76°F | 58°F | 4.76" |
| Oct | 65°F | 47°F | 4.01" |
| Nov | 53°F | 36°F | 3.49" |
| Dec | 44°F | 30°F | 3.89" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Damascus
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Damascus's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Holy Cross Germantown Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Germantown
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Olney
Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Rockville
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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Damascus
Damascus's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 49.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Damascus (within 15 miles)
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 · 1,194 students · in-state tuition $49,380 · 62% graduate · median earnings $60,061 (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: Monocacy National Battlefield, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Damascus
Damascus has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Monocacy National Battlefield (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
11 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayPotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
20 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
21 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
22 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
23 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Damascus
Damascus Branch
9701 Main St., Damascus
Cities Near Damascus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Damascus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Damascus FAQ
Is Damascus, Maryland affordable?⌄
Damascus's median rent is $1,792/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $158,883/year. Median home value is $528,400.
Is Damascus, Maryland safe?⌄
Damascus 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 Damascus, Maryland?⌄
Montgomery County, which includes Damascus, 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 Damascus, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Damascus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,792/month and median household income is $158,883/year. The median home value is $528,400. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Damascus, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Damascus is 38 minutes, which is longer than 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