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Gaithersburg, MD

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Gaithersburg, MD

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Demographics

Very DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 77
Population69,225
Foreign Born23.9%
Population Density6,689people per mi²
Median Age37.8 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

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

172/100

72% above national average

C

The Real Cost of Living in Gaithersburg, Maryland

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $32k$60k
Comfortable $94k$138k
Luxury $188k+$291k+
Elite (Top 5%) $221k+$343k+
Affordability Ratio

78%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean78%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
22
Poor
9
Negative
21

Groceries

0 within 10 miles

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

0 within 20 miles

Airport

IAD — Washington Dulles International

18.5mi

Post Office

Critical Amenities

Golf0 
Camping20Nearest 2.4 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C+
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$107k+2.8%
43% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.3M
92% above US avg
College Educated
52.4%
50% above US avg
WFH
23.9%
67% above US avg
Homeownership
51.3%
22% below US avg
Median Home
$485k
72% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
21.7
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+74.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+42.7%
Homicide*
0.05 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery*
0.84 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault*
2.34 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr+106.0%
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+3Tilts Liberal

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

Presidential Voting Trends for Gaithersburg, Maryland
Dem Rep
40%50%60%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 Season208 days282 frost-free
Annual Rainfall58.6"
Elevation463 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
Poor202 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor6,689/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair30 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Hurricane, Heat Wave, Earthquake, Cold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 280 mi · coast 117 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$126.4M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityWashington690k people are 18 mi away
Nearest Major AirportIAD19 mi away
Distance to State Capital40 miAnnapolis, MD
Nearest Prison21 mi7 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T02:59:45.000Z

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