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Living in
North Bethesda.
North 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 North Bethesda
If you're considering North Bethesda, you're looking at a solidly affluent, highly educated suburb that functions primarily as a jobs hub rather than a residential destination people move to for lifestyle reasons. The area is dominated by federal employment—the National Institutes of Health and multiple public health agencies are major anchors here—alongside corporate offices for companies like Lockheed Martin and Coventry Healthcare. This means a stable, professional job market and relatively low unemployment at 3.7%, but also that the area can feel somewhat sterile and commute-focused.
North Bethesda at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Foreign-Born
34.1%
Broadband Internet
96.0%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics34.1% foreign-born, most often from Japan
Who lives in North Bethesda: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Bethesda, the largest foreign-born group is from Japan (5.5%), and 13.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
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 29% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in North Bethesda
In North Bethesda, rent runs 29% above the MD average, and home values are 74% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,452
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in North Bethesda and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Montgomery County, which includes North Bethesda, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
North Bethesda: Montgomery County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Montgomery County (county-wide) · Annual averages
North Bethesda is about 5% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What North 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
Commute29.6 min avg
How North Bethesda residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Bethesda, most residents drive alone to work (45%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 North 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 North 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
North Bethesda is about 5% 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 North 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
North Bethesda is about 5% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Bethesda 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
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
5.8"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
86
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
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 North Bethesda
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Bethesda's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Walter Reed National Military Med Cen
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Bethesda
Suburban Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Bethesda
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.7 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.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Bethesda
North Bethesda's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 75.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
75.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Bethesda (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland-College Park
9.9 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)
Strayer University-Global Region
10.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 9,376 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $71,338 · 95% graduate · median earnings $110,516 (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, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Bethesda
North Bethesda has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Clara Barton National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Clara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
6 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
6 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
7 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
7 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
8 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
10 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Bethesda
Davis Branch
6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda
Cities Near North Bethesda
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Bethesda?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Bethesda FAQ
Is North Bethesda, Maryland affordable?⌄
North Bethesda's median rent is $2,191/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $129,092/year. Median home value is $731,800.
Is North Bethesda, Maryland safe?⌄
North 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 North Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
Montgomery County, which includes North 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 North Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in North Bethesda is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,191/month and median household income is $129,092/year. The median home value is $731,800. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Bethesda, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in North Bethesda is 30 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