Bethesda, MD · standard
ZIP Code 20817
Montgomery County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 36,240
- 1,008/sq mi High-density area
- $249,332
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,183,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 85.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bethesda pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 1%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 1%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,008
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20817 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 20817 (Bethesda, MD) rose +7.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 273.8 in 2023 to 294.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20817 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, with 36,240 residents across 36.0 square miles, a density of 1,008 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20817 skews affluent, with a median household income of $249,332 (118% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $127,135. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.0% and unemployment is 3.7%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,183,600 (165% above the average Maryland ZIP), while 81.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $3,185.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 85.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.8, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Montgomery County, so 20817 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 20817
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bethesda, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20817.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
322 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
207 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
142 establishments
- Finance and insurance 82
Finance and insurance
82 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 80
Real estate and rental and leasing
80 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 20817, Bethesda, MD · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
36,240
Population
36.0
Area (sq mi)
1,008
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20817?
45.8
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
28.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$249,332
Median Household Income
+118% vs state ZIP avg
$127,135
Per Capita Income
4.0%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
29.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20817 ranks nationally
Bethesda, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$249,332 Top 1% higher than 99% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
14,357housing units
14,357
Total Housing Units
13,660
Occupied Units
697
Vacant Units
2.73
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,183,600
Median Home Value
+165% vs state ZIP avg
$3,185
Median Rent
1969
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.4%
YoY Change (2024)
294
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+194%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20817 have increased 7.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.0% | 217 |
| 2021 | +6.9% | 233 |
| 2022 | +9.2% | 254 |
| 2023 | +7.8% | 274 |
| 2024 | +7.4% | 294 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,196 business establishments in ZIP 20817, employing approximately 28,442 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,685,341,000.
1,196
Businesses
28,442
Employees
$2.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 322 | 26.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 207 | 17.3% |
| Retail trade | 142 | 11.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 82 | 6.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 80 | 6.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 65 | 5.4% |
| Construction | 48 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 45 | 3.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 43 | 3.6% |
| Information | 34 | 2.8% |
| Educational services | 29 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 29 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 28 | 2.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 25 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 0.8% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 20817 vs 20812 →
ZIP 20817 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20852
Rockville (20852)
40,365 residents
- 20817
Bethesda (20817)
36,240 residents
- 22101
Mc Lean (22101)
29,887 residents
- 20815
Chevy Chase (20815)
29,082 residents
- 20814
Bethesda (20814)
27,642 residents
- 20895
Kensington (20895)
19,054 residents
- 20816
Bethesda (20816)
16,208 residents
- 20851 14,191
Rockville (20851)
14,191 residents
- 20818 1,962
Cabin John (20818)
1,962 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20817 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20817 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20896
Garrett Park (20896)
$250,000 median income
- 22101
Mc Lean (22101)
$250,000 median income
- 20817
Bethesda (20817)
$249,332 median income
- 20818
Cabin John (20818)
$245,982 median income
- 20816
Bethesda (20816)
$232,656 median income
- 20812
Glen Echo (20812)
$213,750 median income
- 20815
Chevy Chase (20815)
$194,971 median income
- 20895
Kensington (20895)
$173,625 median income
- 20814
Bethesda (20814)
$150,996 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20817 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20812 | Glen Echo, MD | 255 | 2.2 mi |
| 20818 | Cabin John, MD | 1,962 | 1.8 mi |
| 20814 | Bethesda, MD | 27,642 | 2.5 mi |
| 20816 | Bethesda, MD | 16,208 | 3.3 mi |
| 22101 | Mc Lean, VA | 29,887 | 4.2 mi |
| 20852 | Rockville, MD | 40,365 | 3.9 mi |
| 20815 | Chevy Chase, MD | 29,082 | 3.9 mi |
| 20896 | Garrett Park, MD | 906 | 4.0 mi |
| 20895 | Kensington, MD | 19,054 | 4.3 mi |
| 20851 | Rockville, MD | 14,191 | 5.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20817, both outside MD so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (36,240 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Montgomery County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 20817 in?
ZIP code 20817 (Bethesda) is located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Montgomery County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/montgomery-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 20817?
ZIP code 20817 in Bethesda, MD has a population of 36,240 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20817?
The median household income in ZIP 20817 is $249,332, which is 227% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20817?
The median home value in ZIP 20817 is $1,183,600, which is 326% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20817?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20817 is White at 62.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20817?
ZIP code 20817 has 1,196 business establishments employing approximately 28,442 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20817?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20817 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (322), Health care and social assistance (207), Retail trade (142). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20817?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20817 increased by 7.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 20817?
In ZIP code 20817, 90.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 85.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 20817?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20817 is 29.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 20817?
In ZIP code 20817, approximately 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20817?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20817 is 4.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 20817's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20817 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bethesda, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.