City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Potomac, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Potomac - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

46,230
Residents
$239,205
Median income
$1,105,900
Median home
$2,246
Median rent (state)

Potomac - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Potomac lands in the 99th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

99th
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
87th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Potomac, MD

Potomac is a small city in Maryland, home to 46,230 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $239,205 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.0%. Typical homes in Potomac are valued around $1,105,900, and the median resident age is 47.0 years. About 84.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 8 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,246 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Maryland's average monthly utility costs around $255 (state average). Commute times here average 20.9 minutes, with 53.9% driving alone and 33.1% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 91.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

46,230 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$239,205 /yr

Poverty 2.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Potomac compare to other US cities?

Here's how Potomac stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 99% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 87% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Potomac's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Maryland, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

99thIncome percentile

99th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Potomac's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,105,900 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Potomac $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Potomac, MD Potomac, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Potomac, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Potomac, MD median $239,205/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Potomac, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Potomac, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 84.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
46,230
Median Income
$239,205
Median Home Value
$1,105,900
Median Age
47.0
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Labor force participation
59.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
84.5%

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.9 minutes
Drive Alone
53.9%
Carpool
5.5%
Public Transit
4.2%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
33.1%
Other
2.3%

Based on 21,770 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Potomac sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,246/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Odenton
45,585 people
Hagerstown
43,490 people
North Bethesda
49,498 people
Catonsville
42,717 people
Annapolis
40,744 people
Essex
40,670 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Potomac's 46,230 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Whitney, NV
46,268 people
Huntington, WV
46,189 people
Farmington, NM
46,339 people
Salina, KS
46,432 people
Urbandale, IA
46,026 people
Strongsville, OH
46,022 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Potomac's $239,205 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mesita, NM
$239,141 median income
Hawleyville, CT
$239,375 median income
Floris, VA
$239,457 median income
Blackhawk, CA
$239,681 median income
Bull Run CDP (Fairfax County), VA
$238,500 median income
Boxford, MA
$238,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Potomac, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Potomac, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 61.5% 20.7% 9.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.3% White 61.5% Black or African American 5.5% Asian 20.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.4% Two or more races 9.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Potomac compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Potomac (this city) 46,230 $239,205
Odenton 45,585 $126,455
Hagerstown 43,490 $49,957
North Bethesda 49,498 $128,970
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Potomac, MD?

What is the population of Potomac, MD? +

The population of Potomac, MD stands at 46,230 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Potomac, MD? +

Potomac households earn a median of $239,205 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Potomac? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Potomac; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Potomac, MD? +

Homes in Potomac carry a median value of $1,105,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.