Population 51,886 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Potomac
Household size in Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.87 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.85 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.89 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Potomac average 2.89 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Household size has crept up from 2.84 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the east.
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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.0 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.9 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.1, Potomac is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 12 of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Potomac: 5.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 23 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 Potomac
Renters in Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Potomac is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Potomac: just 5.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. Vacancy is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Potomac was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in the wider Washington area, where the median home dates to 1982. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,774 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,863 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,622 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,119 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,345 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Potomac costs $3,119 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,345 a month since 2006–10, up 76%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only two of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have higher rents.
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 Potomac
Bachelor's degrees in Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.9% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 80.2% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 84.7% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Potomac is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (84.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Maryland city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of college graduates.
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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.3% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.6% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.5% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.6% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Potomac: 97.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 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 Potomac
| Period | Potomac | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.6% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Potomac runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Potomac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac | 2.89 | 48.1 | 5.3% | 14.5% | 5.3% | 1977 | $3,119 | 84.7% | 97.6% | 3.4% |
| North Bethesda | 2.37 | 42.1 | 6.3% | 51.1% | 6.3% | 1981 | $2,691 | 75.9% | 94.9% | 3.8% |
| Travilah | 3.20 | 50.1 | 5.7% | 7.5% | 3.8% | 1988 | $3,306 | 80.7% | 95.8% | 4.9% |
| Rockville | 2.59 | 41.0 | 8.8% | 47.2% | 5.5% | 1983 | $2,402 | 65.6% | 92.9% | 4.4% |
| Cabin John | 2.50 | 53.3 | 0.5% | 4.9% | 8.7% | 1977 | $3,494 | 87.0% | 99.2% | 0.0% |
| Garrett Park | 2.51 | 43.3 | 3.5% | 32.5% | 7.4% | 1958 | $2,563 | 76.6% | 98.5% | 1.2% |
| Glen Echo | 2.90 | 49.8 | 1.0% | 0.3% | 17.9% | 1957 | $2,963 | 80.5% | 98.8% | 0.4% |
| Bethesda | 2.64 | 43.5 | 5.2% | 32.1% | 7.4% | 1969 | $2,962 | 87.2% | 98.3% | 3.0% |
| Kensington | 2.51 | 42.7 | 7.1% | 35.4% | 4.7% | 1969 | $2,391 | 67.1% | 94.5% | 3.6% |
| Chevy Chase View | 3.16 | 43.9 | 0.8% | 6.1% | 3.6% | 1956 | $3,286 | 89.7% | 99.2% | 1.5% |
| South Kensington | 2.93 | 41.7 | 5.6% | 14.8% | 6.5% | 1957 | $3,113 | 84.5% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Asheboro, NC · Winter Park, FL · Winter Garden, FL · West Sacramento, CA · West Chester, OH · Webster, NY · Vero Beach, FL · Union, NJ · Tooele, UT · Sterling, VA
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 Potomac. 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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