Population 51,678 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wheaton
Household size in Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.21 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.34 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.38 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.34 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Wheaton is a place of big households: 3.34 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has climbed from 3.21 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only four have larger households.
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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.3 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Wheaton is 38.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.2, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the east and 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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in seven households in Wheaton (13.6%), above the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Maryland cities, Wheaton has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Wheaton
Renters in Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.4% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Wheaton rent their homes (35.4%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 27.3% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.2 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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.1% of homes in Wheaton are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.0 points from 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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Wheaton is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,482 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,713 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,980 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,115 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$634 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Wheaton costs $2,115 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the wider Washington area ($2,236). Rents are up $634 a month from 2006–10, a 43% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Wheaton
Bachelor's degrees in Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.0% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.6% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Wheaton as nationally: 36.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Washington area (53.9%). The share with a degree has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.4% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.2% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.3% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.2% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Wheaton never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have a lower 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 Wheaton
| Period | Wheaton | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Wheaton: 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Wheaton has higher unemployment than at least four in five Maryland cities. 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).
Wheaton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton | 3.34 | 38.4 | 13.6% | 35.4% | 4.1% | 1966 | $2,115 | 36.6% | 80.2% | 7.1% |
| Kensington | 2.51 | 42.7 | 7.1% | 35.4% | 4.7% | 1969 | $2,391 | 67.1% | 94.5% | 3.6% |
| Glenmont | 3.12 | 38.8 | 16.0% | 37.4% | 3.5% | 1982 | $2,100 | 44.8% | 85.5% | 5.0% |
| Garrett Park | 2.51 | 43.3 | 3.5% | 32.5% | 7.4% | 1958 | $2,563 | 76.6% | 98.5% | 1.2% |
| Kemp Mill | 3.03 | 40.2 | 9.9% | 16.9% | 6.3% | 1962 | $2,916 | 65.1% | 92.8% | 6.4% |
| 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% |
| Aspen Hill | 3.15 | 39.9 | 13.0% | 34.0% | 5.5% | 1971 | $2,484 | 42.8% | 83.8% | 7.1% |
| North Bethesda | 2.37 | 42.1 | 6.3% | 51.1% | 6.3% | 1981 | $2,691 | 75.9% | 94.9% | 3.8% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ballwin, MO · Bedford, TX · Bluffton, SC · Campbell, CA · Cathedral City, CA · Crystal Lake, IL · East Hartford, CT · East Lansing, MI · Florence, KY · Grovetown, GA
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 Wheaton. 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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