How Gaithersburg compares across Maryland
Gaithersburg is ranked on 37 lists against the 262 Maryland towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 0 and the top quarter on 6.
More snow than 98% of Maryland
Not better or worse, just Gaithersburg’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
The lists Gaithersburg does best on
Each list ranks every MD town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Gaithersburg marked.
Gaithersburg lands in the top half on 17 of 23 lists
Each dot is Gaithersburg’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in MD, the right end is last. Areas where Gaithersburg does best come first.
Gaithersburg out-ranks 2 of its 5 ranked neighbors
Head to head on the lists where both towns are ranked: a point for each list where one town places higher. Tap a town for its own rankings.
Every MD list, and where Gaithersburg lands
38 lists from Census, school, health, library, crime, climate and land data. Tap any list to see every town on it.
Health
Healthiest#1 Bethesda · 100 / 100
#61
Lowest obesity#1 Travilah · 19%
#21
Fewest smokers#1 Chevy Chase · 5%
#34
Most active#1 Chevy Chase · 12%
#107
Fewest uninsured#1 Chevy Chase · 4%
#207
K
Lowest depression#1 Konterra · 13%
#83
Closest to a top hospital#1 Towson · 0.5 mi
#155 Outdoors
Most conserved land#1 Forest Heights · 49.9%
#124
Most trails#1 Hampton · 7.0 mi / sq mi
#64
Most walkable#1 Mount Rainier · 228 / sq mi
#20 
People
Most educated#1 Chevy Chase · 95.2%
#74
Youngest#1 Naval Academy · 21.0
#92
Oldest#1 Leisure World · 76.0
#166
Most residents 65+#1 Leisure World · 77.4%
#166
A
Most kids#1 Andrews AFB · 36.5%
#133 Safety
Safest#1 Frostburg · 3.3
#15 Getting around
Shortest commute#1 Naval Academy · 7.2 min
#87 
Cost of living
Most affordable#1 Cumberland · 1.2 yrs
#186
Cheapest rent#1 Emmitsburg · $635/mo
#173
C
Lowest property tax#1 Cresaptown · $1,360/yr
#181
Rent easiest to afford#1 Mays Chapel · 27.2%
#25 
The number on the right is Gaithersburg’s spot. All of Maryland’s rankings, with the map → · National lists and other states: all rankings.
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every MD list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.