Residential comparison · 13 facts
Bethesda, MD vs Potomac, MD
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Bethesda needs about $76,500 in Potomac to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Potomac, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $93,500 in Bethesda.
A few differences
- Potomac is higher on median household income ($236,675 vs $192,237).
- Potomac is lower on cost of living index (157 vs 166).
- Potomac is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,074/mo vs $2,676/mo).
Bethesda vs Potomac · facet by facet
| Facet | Bethesda, MD | Potomac, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,169,900 | $1,157,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,676/mo | $2,074/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.05% | 1.05% |
| State & local income tax | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 166 | 157 |
| Groceries index | 105 | 105 |
| Utilities | $190/mo | $190/mo |
| Median household income | $192,237 | $236,675 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 6.2/10 | 6.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 213 days | 213 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Bethesda, MD · Potomac, MD
Questions & answers
- Is Bethesda cheaper than Potomac?
- Potomac has the lower day-to-day cost index (157 vs 166 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Potomac equals $85,000 in Bethesda?
- A household earning $85,000 in Bethesda needs about $76,500 in Potomac to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Potomac lifestyle costs about $93,500 in Bethesda.