Population 108,965 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Silver Spring
Household size in Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Silver Spring average 2.64 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the wider Washington area, where it has 2.77 people. Household size has crept up from 2.59 in 2006–10, 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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Silver Spring are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 38.9, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Silver Spring as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Washington area overall (10.4%). The single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Silver Spring
Renters in Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.1% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.7% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.7% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Silver Spring than nationally: 48.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 30.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Silver Spring: 6.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Washington area. Vacancy has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Silver Spring 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 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the center.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,377 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,465 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,729 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,035 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$658 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Silver Spring costs $2,035 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the Washington area overall ($2,236). Rents are up $658 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Silver Spring
Bachelor's degrees in Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.2% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.9% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.5% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 57.8% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Silver Spring: 57.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.9% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.0% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Silver Spring is close to the national rate: 88.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Washington area (91.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Silver Spring
| Period | Silver Spring | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Silver Spring is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Silver Spring 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring | 2.64 | 39.6 | 11.9% | 48.7% | 6.0% | 1969 | $2,035 | 57.8% | 88.2% | 5.5% |
| Four Corners | 2.91 | 41.2 | 6.4% | 10.2% | 2.9% | 1952 | $2,523 | 68.4% | 92.3% | 4.6% |
| Kemp Mill | 3.03 | 40.2 | 9.9% | 16.9% | 6.3% | 1962 | $2,916 | 65.1% | 92.8% | 6.4% |
| White Oak | 2.92 | 35.6 | 17.0% | 62.0% | 2.7% | 1972 | $2,068 | 42.8% | 86.5% | 6.3% |
| Takoma Park | 2.80 | 37.8 | 14.1% | 55.6% | 5.6% | 1956 | $1,487 | 48.5% | 83.2% | 6.7% |
| Adelphi | 3.53 | 33.9 | 17.8% | 55.5% | 8.2% | 1968 | $2,140 | 28.3% | 70.1% | 5.1% |
| Wheaton | 3.34 | 38.4 | 13.6% | 35.4% | 4.1% | 1966 | $2,115 | 36.6% | 80.2% | 7.1% |
| North Chevy Chase | 3.09 | 53.2 | 0.4% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 1957 | $3,472 | 77.0% | 93.0% | 1.3% |
| South Kensington | 2.93 | 41.7 | 5.6% | 14.8% | 6.5% | 1957 | $3,113 | 84.5% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Chevy Chase View | 3.16 | 43.9 | 0.8% | 6.1% | 3.6% | 1956 | $3,286 | 89.7% | 99.2% | 1.5% |
| Kensington | 2.51 | 42.7 | 7.1% | 35.4% | 4.7% | 1969 | $2,391 | 67.1% | 94.5% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: St. Joseph, MO · Spring, TX · Stamford, CT · Springfield, IL · Spokane, WA · Spring Valley, NV · Spokane Valley, WA · Southfield, MI · Spring Hill, FL · Statesville, NC
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 Silver Spring. 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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