What are the schools like in Mount Rainier, MD?

Mount Rainier is served primarily by Prince George's County Public Schools. The district operates 139 elementary schools, 25 middle schools, and 25 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Mount Rainier?

The median household income in Mount Rainier, MD is $64,170 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Mount Rainier, MD?

Mount Rainier has an average high temperature of 44.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.7 inches.

Mount Rainier, MD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Mount Rainier, MD affordable or expensive?

Mount Rainier's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mount Rainier is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $498,200 and the median rent is $1,406 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Mount Rainier, MD?

Mount Rainier has a violent crime rate of 782.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2631.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mount Rainier, MD a Good Place to Live?

Mount Rainier is a small town of 8,262 in Maryland, with a median household income of $64,170 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Mount Rainier stands out for solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes. Whether Mount Rainier is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mount Rainier city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.6

Mount Rainier's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mount Rainier costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Mount Rainier, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$498,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,406	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	25.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,170	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Mount Rainier's violent crime rate is 782.1 per 100,000 residents — 106% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

782.1 /100k

Property Crime

2631.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Mount Rainier is served primarily by Prince George's County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mount Rainier, MD	National Avg
School District	Prince George's County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	139	—
Middle Schools	25	—
High Schools	25	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mount Rainier sees average highs of 44.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July, with 45.6 inches of annual precipitation and 9.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Mount Rainier, MD
Average High — January	44.7°F
Average High — July	89.8°F
Annual Precipitation	45.6"
Annual Snowfall	9.7"

Demographics

Metric	Mount Rainier, MD	National Avg
Population	8,262	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	23.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	42.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	31.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	13.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brentwood, MD 0 mi North Brentwood, MD 1 mi Cottage City, MD 1 mi Hyattsville, MD 1 mi Colmar Manor, MD 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

20712

Mount Rainier vs Other Cities

Mount Rainier, MD vs Brentwood, MD Mount Rainier, MD vs North Brentwood, MD Mount Rainier, MD vs Cottage City, MD Mount Rainier, MD vs Hyattsville, MD Mount Rainier, MD vs Colmar Manor, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Rainier, MD affordable or expensive?

Mount Rainier's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Mount Rainier roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $498,200 and median rent is $1,406/month.

What is the crime rate in Mount Rainier, MD?

Mount Rainier's violent crime rate is 782.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2631.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mount Rainier?

Public schools in Mount Rainier are operated by Prince George's County Public Schools. The district has 139 elementary, 25 middle, and 25 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mount Rainier, MD a good place to live?

Mount Rainier, MD has a population of 8,262, a median household income of $64,170, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Mount Rainier?

Mount Rainier averages 44.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.6 inches with about 9.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mount Rainier?

Mount Rainier, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 20712.

What is the population of Mount Rainier?

The population of Mount Rainier, Maryland is 8,262 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mount Rainier?

Key numbers for living in Mount Rainier: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $498,200, median household income $64,170, crime index 174 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mount Rainier side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.