The Town FilesFort Washington, Maryland
Community in Prince George's County · population 24,261 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $480,100
- Household income
- $143,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 45.9
Fort Washington is a community of 24,261 people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $480,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Maryland towns.
How Fort Washington 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 Fort Washington is worth $480,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $143,333, which is more affordable than 77% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,690 a month. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Washington | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $480,100 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,690 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $143,333 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Fort Washington
| People | Fort Washington | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.0% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.8% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 37.9 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 94.3% |
Weather in Fort Washington
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Washington since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 24, 2001 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 1980.
Severe weather in Prince George's County since 1996
Prince George's County has been included in 19 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 Prince George's County
Prince George's County had 329,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,373 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Fort Washington itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Fort Washington
12 public schools with 5,615 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly High | 9-12 | 943 | 16.5 |
| Colin L Powell Academy | PK-8 | 898 | 13.0 |
| Oxon Hill Middle | 6-8 | 867 | 16.7 |
| Excel Academy Public Charter (charter) | K-8 | 437 | 13.2 |
| Fort Washington Forest Elem | PK-6 | 391 | 15.6 |
| Rose Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 366 | 15.3 |
| Tayac Elementary | PK-5 | 345 | 13.3 |
| Apple Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 323 | 14.7 |
| Avalon Elementary | PK-5 | 302 | 13.1 |
| Fort Foote Elementary | PK-5 | 281 | 14.8 |
| Indian Queen Elementary | PK-5 | 246 | 12.9 |
| J. Frank Dent Elementary | PK-5 | 216 | 10.8 |
Towns near Fort Washington
- Fort Hunt, VA2.7 mi · 17,231 people · home $927,400
- Friendly, MD3.0 mi · 9,937 people · home $437,800
- National Harbor, MD3.5 mi · 5,509 people · home $472,500
- Accokeek, MD3.8 mi · 13,927 people · home $560,500
- Hybla Valley, VA3.9 mi · 16,319 people · home $503,000
- Belle Haven, VA4.1 mi · 6,851 people · home $689,400
- Oxon Hill, MD4.4 mi · 18,791 people · home $359,800
- Forest Heights, MD5.0 mi · 2,658 people · home $371,700
Fort Washington questions
Is Fort Washington, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Washington scores better for retirees than 59% of Maryland towns and quieter than 66%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Fort Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Washington is valued at $480,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $143,333, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $2,690 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Washington?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Fort Washington get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)