Potomac, Maryland
Among the top 21% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 11% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 9% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 72% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 79% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 51% of US places
- top 7% for airport distance
- top 9% for broadband access
- bottom 1% for monthly owner costs
Potomac is a mid-size city in Maryland with about 46,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, broadband access, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on monthly rent and monthly owner costs.
Climate
Hot summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
cold
57%46%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in3.2 in
muggy 81%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$219k99th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$72kbetter than 4% of US places
Home Value$1.0M98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$3kbetter than 2% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$4kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.94%better than 54% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
State 5.80% + Local 3.20%
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden15.46%better than 16% of US places
Unemployment4.2%better than 47% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)35°F61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)79°F68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation48.1 in72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall5.8 inbetter than 67% of US places
Sunny Days165 daysbetter than 4% of US places
Summer Humidity66°Fbetter than 33% of US places
Comfortable Days76 daysbetter than 34% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk31.8better than 89% of US places
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 50% of US places
School Quality77.4better than 74% of US places
Violent Crime606/100kbetter than 58% of US places
Property Crime1477/100kbetter than 31% of US places
Community
Population46,49997th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age47.472nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5589th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9440th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+612nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)58.8%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.5%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)9.8%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)20.6%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.3%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time31 minbetter than 20% of US places
Walkability10.7/20better than 88% of US places
Airport Distance14 mibetter than 93% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access98.0%better than 91% of US places
Amenities Nearby50.97better than 40% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 26% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Potomac an affordable place to live?
- Potomac is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $72k, better than 4% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Potomac?
- The median home value in Potomac is $1.0M, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Potomac?
- Median household income in Potomac is $219k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Potomac?
- Median gross rent in Potomac is $3k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Potomac safe?
- Potomac is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 606/100k (better than 58%). Property crime is 1477/100k.
- What is the weather like in Potomac?
- Potomac averages 79°F in July and 35°F in January, with 48.1 in of annual precipitation and about 165 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Potomac?
- Public-school quality in Potomac is above average, scoring better than 74% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Potomac?
- The average one-way commute in Potomac is 31 min.
Other places in Montgomery County
Places near Potomac
Compare Potomac
Explore Maryland
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)