Median Income
$218,710
household / year
Median Home Value
$1,044,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,584
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is Potomac, MD a Good Place to Live?

Potomac is a small city of 46,499 in Maryland, with a median household income of $218,710 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Potomac stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Potomac is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Potomac 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

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

Metric Potomac, MD National Avg
Median Home Value $1,044,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,584 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 85.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $218,710 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Potomac is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Potomac is served primarily by Montgomery County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Potomac, MD National Avg
School District Montgomery County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 138 —
Middle Schools 40 —
High Schools 29 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 84.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Potomac sees average highs of 42.2°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 48.1 inches of annual precipitation and 5.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricPotomac, MD
Average High — January42.2°F
Average High — July87.1°F
Annual Precipitation48.1"
Annual Snowfall5.8"

Demographics

MetricPotomac, MDNational Avg
Population46,499—
Median Age47.438.9
Unemployment Rate4.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time31.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)63.2%59.3%
Black or African American5.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino6.8%18.9%
Asian20.6%6.3%
Under 1823.9%22.2%
65 and over22.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cabin John, MD 3 mi Glen Echo, MD 4 mi North Bethesda, MD 4 mi Bethesda, MD 4 mi Travilah, MD 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Potomac

Potomac, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

20854

Potomac vs Other Cities

Potomac, MD vs Cabin John, MD Potomac, MD vs Glen Echo, MD Potomac, MD vs North Bethesda, MD Potomac, MD vs Bethesda, MD Potomac, MD vs Travilah, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Potomac's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Potomac roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,044,900 and median rent is $2,584/month.
Crime data for Potomac is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Potomac are operated by Montgomery County Public Schools. The district has 138 elementary, 40 middle, and 29 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 84.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Potomac, MD has a population of 46,499, a median household income of $218,710, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Potomac averages 42.2°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.1 inches with about 5.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Potomac, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 20854.
The population of Potomac, Maryland is 46,499 with a median age of 47.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Potomac: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $1,044,900, median household income $218,710, schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Potomac side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.