The Town FilesBethesda, Maryland
Community in Montgomery County · population 68,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,169,900
- Household income
- $192,237
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 42.8
Bethesda is a community of 68,056 people in Montgomery County, Maryland. The median home is worth $1,169,900, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Maryland towns, more upscale than 96% of Maryland towns, better transit than 95% of Maryland towns.
How Bethesda ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethesda is worth $1,169,900, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $192,237, which is more affordable than 6% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,469 a month. 64.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethesda | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,169,900 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,469 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $192,237 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.0% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Bethesda
| People | Bethesda | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 87.1% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.2% | — |
| Work from home | 38.0% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 94.3% |
Weather in Bethesda
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethesda since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 128 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 462,298 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,473 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Bethesda itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Bethesda
17 public schools with 16,568 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Johnson High | 9-12 | 2,984 | 18.8 |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High | 9-12 | 2,369 | 17.4 |
| Walt Whitman High | 9-12 | 2,042 | 17.5 |
| Thomas W. Pyle Middle | 6-8 | 1,260 | 16.6 |
| North Bethesda Middle | 6-8 | 1,163 | 16.6 |
| Westland Middle | 6-8 | 865 | 15.2 |
| Ashburton Elementary | K-5 | 821 | 16.8 |
| Wyngate Elementary | K-5 | 679 | 17.9 |
| Wood Acres Elementary | PK-5 | 612 | 17.0 |
| Woodlin Elementary | K-5 | 597 | 14.2 |
| Bethesda Elementary | K-5 | 584 | 14.6 |
| Westbrook Elementary | K-5 | 513 | 16.0 |
Towns near Bethesda
- Chevy Chase, MD1.9 mi · 2,904 people · home $1,670,600
- Friendship Heights Village, MD2.3 mi · 5,360 people · home $484,300
- Chevy Chase, MD2.4 mi · 10,176 people · home $1,245,000
- Brookmont, MD2.4 mi · 3,751 people · home $1,361,100
- North Bethesda, MD3.4 mi · 50,094 people · home $731,800
- South Kensington, MD3.4 mi · 8,829 people · home $919,800
- North Kensington, MD4.4 mi · 9,497 people · home $576,700
- Potomac, MD4.4 mi · 47,018 people · home $1,157,000
Bethesda questions
Is Bethesda, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethesda scores better for retirees than 70% of Maryland towns and quieter than 25%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Bethesda?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethesda is valued at $1,169,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $192,237, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $2,469 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethesda?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does Bethesda get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethesda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)