Median Income
$101,229
household / year
Median Home Value
$454,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,039
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is Wheaton, MD a Good Place to Live?

Wheaton is a mid-sized city of 52,775 in Maryland, with a median household income of $101,229 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

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

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

All Wheaton 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

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

Metric Wheaton, MD National Avg
Median Home Value $454,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,039 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $101,229 $74,755

Crime & Safety

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

Schools & Education

Wheaton 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 Wheaton, 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 37.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 79.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wheaton sees average highs of 42.2°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 46.3 inches of annual precipitation and 15.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricWheaton, MD
Average High — January42.2°F
Average High — July87.1°F
Annual Precipitation46.3"
Annual Snowfall15.8"

Demographics

MetricWheaton, MDNational Avg
Population52,775—
Median Age36.038.9
Unemployment Rate6.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time33.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)29.5%59.3%
Black or African American19.6%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino36.1%18.9%
Asian11.0%6.3%
Under 1823.4%22.2%
65 and over12.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Kensington, MD 1 mi Glenmont, MD 2 mi Kensington, MD 2 mi Kemp Mill, MD 2 mi Garrett Park, MD 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Wheaton

Wheaton, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

20902

Wheaton vs Other Cities

Wheaton, MD vs North Kensington, MD Wheaton, MD vs Glenmont, MD Wheaton, MD vs Kensington, MD Wheaton, MD vs Kemp Mill, MD Wheaton, MD vs Garrett Park, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Wheaton's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wheaton roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $454,600 and median rent is $2,039/month.
Crime data for Wheaton is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Wheaton 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. 37.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wheaton, MD has a population of 52,775, a median household income of $101,229, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wheaton averages 42.2°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.3 inches with about 15.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wheaton, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 20902.
The population of Wheaton, Maryland is 52,775 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wheaton: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $454,600, median household income $101,229, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wheaton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.