The Town FilesGaithersburg, Maryland
City in Montgomery County · population 69,657 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $496,500
- Household income
- $112,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 37.8
Gaithersburg is a city of 69,657 people in Montgomery County, Maryland. The median home is worth $496,500, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of Maryland towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Maryland towns, better transit than 88% of Maryland towns.
How Gaithersburg 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 Gaithersburg is worth $496,500, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $112,467, which is more affordable than 28% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,058 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaithersburg | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $496,500 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,058 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $112,467 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Gaithersburg
| People | Gaithersburg | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.5% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 44.3% | — |
| Work from home | 26.0% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 94.3% |
Weather in Gaithersburg
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaithersburg since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 5, 2024 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 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 Gaithersburg itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Gaithersburg
29 public schools with 21,213 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaithersburg High | 9-12 | 2,454 | 13.9 |
| Quince Orchard High | 9-12 | 2,150 | 16.3 |
| Watkins Mill High | 9-12 | 1,661 | 13.8 |
| Lakelands Park Middle | 6-8 | 1,014 | 14.7 |
| Gaithersburg Middle | 6-8 | 899 | 13.2 |
| Forest Oak Middle | 6-8 | 847 | 12.3 |
| South Lake Elementary | PK-5 | 780 | 11.3 |
| Ridgeview Middle | 6-8 | 749 | 13.9 |
| Whetstone Elementary | PK-5 | 718 | 12.4 |
| Rachel Carson Elementary | PK-5 | 674 | 16.4 |
| Gaithersburg Elementary | PK-5 | 665 | 10.2 |
| Diamond Elementary | K-5 | 653 | 14.8 |
Towns near Gaithersburg
- Flower Hill, MD1.5 mi · 14,108 people · home $463,500
- Montgomery Village, MD2.8 mi · 34,893 people · home $388,900
- Redland, MD2.9 mi · 18,592 people · home $540,200
- Derwood, MD3.4 mi · 2,535 people · home $719,800
- Germantown, MD4.1 mi · 91,249 people · home $422,400
- North Potomac, MD4.3 mi · 23,790 people · home $826,200
- Rockville, MD5.0 mi · 67,117 people · home $682,300
- Clarksburg, MD6.4 mi · 29,051 people · home $679,400
Gaithersburg questions
Is Gaithersburg, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaithersburg scores better for retirees than 31% of Maryland towns and quieter than 6%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Gaithersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaithersburg is valued at $496,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,467, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $2,058 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaithersburg?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Gaithersburg get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaithersburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 5, 2024. 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)