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Living in
Wheaton.
Wheaton 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 Wheaton
Wheaton works well if you want established suburban living with real diversity and a median income of $111k—you're looking at homes around $501k and rents around $2,150 a month. The community is genuinely multicultural: 40.5% Latino, 18.5% Black, and 13.9% Asian, with the largest groups from El Salvador, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. There's an Arts and Entertainment District designation here alongside Silver Spring and Bethesda, which brings some cultural activity and tax incentives for artists, though this isn't a major draw compared to those neighbors.
Wheaton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
43.2%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics43.2% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Wheaton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wheaton, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (26.1%), and 39.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.6%
of households
Married Couples
49.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.11
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 27% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Wheaton
In Wheaton, rent runs 27% above the MD average, and home values are 19% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,254
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Wheaton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Montgomery County, which includes Wheaton, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Wheaton: Montgomery County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Montgomery County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Wheaton 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
Commute31.6 min avg
How Wheaton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wheaton, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 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 Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, 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
Wheaton 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
15.8"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
86
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
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 Wheaton
Uninsured
14.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wheaton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 2 mi away · Silver Spring
Walter Reed National Military Med Cen
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Bethesda
Suburban Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Bethesda
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wheaton
Wheaton's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wheaton (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)
University of Maryland-College Park
6.9 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
9.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 9,376 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (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: Civil War Defenses of Washington, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wheaton
Wheaton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Civil War Defenses of Washington (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Civil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
5 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
6 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
7 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
7 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
9 mi awayCarter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
9 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wheaton
Wheaton Library
11701 Georgia Ave, Wheaton
Cities Near Wheaton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wheaton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wheaton FAQ
Is Wheaton, Maryland affordable?⌄
Wheaton's median rent is $2,163/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $111,478/year. Median home value is $501,200.
Is Wheaton, Maryland safe?⌄
Wheaton 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 Wheaton, Maryland?⌄
Montgomery County, which includes Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Wheaton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,163/month and median household income is $111,478/year. The median home value is $501,200. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wheaton, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Wheaton is 32 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