Population 68,031 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bethesda
Household size in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Bethesda sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the Washington area as a whole, where it has 2.77 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.52, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.4 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Bethesda is 43.5 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.3, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Bethesda: 5.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only 19 of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bethesda
Renters in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Bethesda is about as common as it is nationally: 32.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider Washington area (36.3%). Among homeowners, 36.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Bethesda than nationally: 7.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Washington area. Compared with other Maryland cities, though, Bethesda has a higher vacancy rate than most.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Bethesda is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,826 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,934 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,655 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,962 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,136 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
Rent in Bethesda runs $2,962 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,136 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 33.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bethesda
Bachelor's degrees in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 82.6% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 86.9% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 87.2% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Bethesda is highly educated: nearly nine in ten adults 25 and older (87.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Bethesda has the highest share of college graduates of any Maryland city with 5,000+ people.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.6% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.6% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.1% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.3% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Bethesda: 98.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only six of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bethesda
| Period | Bethesda | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.2% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Bethesda has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bethesda compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda | 2.64 | 43.5 | 5.2% | 32.1% | 7.4% | 1969 | $2,962 | 87.2% | 98.3% | 3.0% |
| Somerset | 2.08 | 59.4 | 1.7% | 20.3% | 6.4% | 1966 | $2,924 | 75.8% | 97.2% | 3.4% |
| Chevy Chase | 2.38 | 46.7 | 6.9% | 41.6% | 8.3% | 1964 | $2,788 | 82.3% | 96.6% | 2.6% |
| Glen Echo | 2.90 | 49.8 | 1.0% | 0.3% | 17.9% | 1957 | $2,963 | 80.5% | 98.8% | 0.4% |
| Chevy Chase Section Five | 2.86 | 48.3 | 8.0% | 9.6% | 7.0% | 1940 | $3,501 | 96.0% | 99.6% | 0.7% |
| Chevy Chase Village | 2.80 | 51.7 | 1.6% | 3.7% | 5.0% | 1938 | $3,501 | 95.2% | 99.2% | 2.6% |
| Chevy Chase Section Three | 3.31 | 41.7 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 0.7% | 1938 | $3,501 | 95.2% | 98.9% | 0.5% |
| North Chevy Chase | 3.09 | 53.2 | 0.4% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 1957 | $3,472 | 77.0% | 93.0% | 1.3% |
| Martins Additions | 2.85 | 49.1 | 5.4% | 6.2% | 8.8% | 1954 | $3,501 | 94.6% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| Cabin John | 2.50 | 53.3 | 0.5% | 4.9% | 8.7% | 1977 | $3,494 | 87.0% | 99.2% | 0.0% |
| Chevy Chase View | 3.16 | 43.9 | 0.8% | 6.1% | 3.6% | 1956 | $3,286 | 89.7% | 99.2% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rochester, NY · Rockford, IL · Rock Hill, SC · Saginaw, MI · Redondo Beach, CA · Rochester Hills, MI · Richmond, CA · Pittsburgh, PA · Raleigh, NC · Quincy, MA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bethesda. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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