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Living in
Gaithersburg.
About
Life in Gaithersburg
If you're considering Gaithersburg, understand that you're looking at a solidly middle-to-upper-class suburb built around serious employment anchors—NIST, defense contractors, and pharmaceutical companies keep the local economy humming and unemployment down to 3.7%. About 52% of residents hold college degrees, and the median household income hovers near $112,467, which matters because housing costs reflect that affluence: expect a median home price around $496,500 and rent near $2,058 monthly. The commute to D.C. proper typically runs 29-30 minutes depending on traffic and your exact destination, manageable for many but worth factoring in if you're working downtown.
Gaithersburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
44.3%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics44.3% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Gaithersburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gaithersburg, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (19.4%), and 25.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.0%
of households
Married Couples
47.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
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 21% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Gaithersburg
In Gaithersburg, rent runs 21% above the MD average, and home values are 18% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,817
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $513,386 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Gaithersburg and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gaithersburg is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Gaithersburg 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
Commute29.4 min avg
How Gaithersburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gaithersburg, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 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 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gaithersburg runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
215.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,046.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gaithersburg Police Department
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 Gaithersburg, 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 Gaithersburg, 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
Climate85°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gaithersburg has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.7"
Annual Snowfall
32.6"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
86
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 27°F | 3.11" |
| Feb | 45°F | 28°F | 2.60" |
| Mar | 54°F | 36°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 66°F | 46°F | 3.23" |
| May | 74°F | 55°F | 3.55" |
| Jun | 82°F | 64°F | 3.96" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 85°F | 67°F | 3.05" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.01" |
| Oct | 66°F | 48°F | 3.52" |
| Nov | 56°F | 38°F | 3.27" |
| Dec | 46°F | 31°F | 3.38" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gaithersburg
Uninsured
14.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Gaithersburg's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Rockville
Holy Cross Germantown Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Germantown
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Olney
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.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Gaithersburg (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (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: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
10 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
12 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
12 mi awayWolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
14 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
15 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg Branch
18330 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg
Cities Near Gaithersburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gaithersburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gaithersburg FAQ
Is Gaithersburg, Maryland affordable?⌄
Gaithersburg's median rent is $2,058/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $112,467/year. Median home value is $496,500.
Is Gaithersburg, Maryland safe?⌄
Gaithersburg's violent crime rate was 216 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1047 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gaithersburg, Maryland?⌄
Gaithersburg 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 Gaithersburg, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Gaithersburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,058/month and median household income is $112,467/year. The median home value is $496,500. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gaithersburg, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Gaithersburg is 29 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