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Bowie, MD

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Bowie, MD

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Demographics

Majority BlackSimpson's Diversity Index: 61
Population57,771
Foreign Born4.1%
Population Density2,824people per mi²
Median Age44.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

178/100

78% above national average

C

The Real Cost of Living in Bowie, Maryland

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $36k$67k
Comfortable $86k$126k
Luxury $177k+$274k+
Elite (Top 5%) $208k+$323k+
Affordability Ratio

112%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
23
Poor
3
Negative
4

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

0.6mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

1.2mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

0.5mi

Airport

BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall

15.9mi

Post Office

USPS — Bowie, MD

2.2mi

Critical Amenities

Golf7Nearest 3.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 5.4 mi
Marina1Nearest 10 mi
Winery0Nearest 12.2 mi
Ice Rink1Nearest 9.9 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B-
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$142k+2.2%
89% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.8M
172% above US avg
College Educated
50.1%
43% above US avg
WFH
23.8%
66% above US avg
Homeownership
85.1%
30% above US avg
Median Home
$442k
57% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
23.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+61.9%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+42.7%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k Residents35% below state avg
Robbery*
0.84 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.18 / 1k Residents49% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr+81.0%
Burglary*
1.64 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft*
13.30 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
3.15 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+17Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Bowie, Maryland
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D+
Poor11.3% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (8% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season222 days292 frost-free
Annual Rainfall65.8"
Elevation154 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D+
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor189 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,824/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair29 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Heat Wave, Tornado, Hurricane, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 299 mi · coast 90 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$121.8M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityWashington690k people are 16 mi away
Nearest Major AirportBWI16 mi away
Distance to State Capital13 miAnnapolis, MD
Nearest Prison13 mi10 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T01:19:44.000Z

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