The Town FilesPotomac Heights, Maryland
Community in Charles County · population 1,036 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,800
- Household income
- $71,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 51.4
Potomac Heights is a community of 1,036 people in Charles County, Maryland. The median home is worth $115,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Maryland towns, better transit than 71% of Maryland towns.
How Potomac Heights 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 Potomac Heights is worth $115,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $71,786, which is more affordable than 99% of Maryland towns. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Potomac Heights | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,800 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | — | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $71,786 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Potomac Heights
| People | Potomac Heights | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 94.3% |
Weather in Potomac Heights
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potomac Heights since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 28, 2002 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 124 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Charles County since 1996
Charles County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Charles County
Charles County had 43,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,436 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Potomac Heights itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Potomac Heights
- Indian Head, MD1.3 mi · 3,894 people · home $303,700
- Bryans Road, MD2.2 mi · 8,650 people · home $377,300
- Mason Neck, VA4.2 mi · 2,025 people · home $818,300
- Pomfret, MD5.8 mi · 514 people · home $406,900
- Bensville, MD7.0 mi · 15,288 people · home $521,300
- Woodbridge, VA7.2 mi · 44,668 people · home $422,400
- Fort Belvoir, VA8.0 mi · 7,637 people · home —
- Mount Vernon, VA8.1 mi · 12,914 people · home $836,200
Potomac Heights questions
Is Potomac Heights, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Potomac Heights scores better for retirees than 20% of Maryland towns and quieter than 42%. 27.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Potomac Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Potomac Heights is valued at $115,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,786, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Potomac Heights?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does Potomac Heights get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potomac Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 28, 2002. 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)