Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 20817: Bethesda, MD
ZIP code 20817 uses the postal name Bethesda, Maryland and lies entirely in Montgomery County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 37,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Bethesda's 6 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $249,332 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Bethesda (47%), Potomac (41%) and North Bethesda (10%), and 2% in smaller places.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Bethesda · 6 residential ZIPs
- County
- Montgomery County
- Census places
- Bethesda (47%) census-designated place; Potomac (41%) census-designated place; North Bethesda (10%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- House district
- MD-8 119th Congress
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 14.0 sq mi · 2,668 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 20817?
20817 centers on 38.997°, -77.152° and covers 14.0 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 20818, 20812, 20814, 20816, 20815, 20852, 20854.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 20817, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 20817 compare with the rest of Bethesda?
| Measure | 20817 | In Bethesda | In Montgomery County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 37,454 | 1st of 6 | 11th of 53 | 54th of 477 |
| Median household income | $249k | 1st of 3 | 2nd of 41 | 5th of 293 |
| Median home value | $1.18M | 2nd of 3 | 4th of 41 | 4th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in more than 99% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 87% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 20817?
The 2020 Census counted 38,908 people in 20817; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 37,454. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 7.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 37,454
- 2020 Census count
- 38,908+7.4% since 2010 (36,240)
- Households
- 13,660
- Median age
- 45.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 20817?
Of the 37,454 people the ACS estimates in 20817, 25.3% are under 18 and 20.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (60.9%), then Asian (not Hispanic) (16.8%).
- Under 1825.3%
- 18 to 6454.0%
- 65 and older20.7%
- White, not Hispanic60.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic16.8%
- Hispanic or Latino8.9%
- Other or two or more7.1%
- Black, not Hispanic6.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 20817 earn?
Median household income is $249,332 (ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd highest of the 41 ranked ZIP codes in Montgomery County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($249,762 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $249,332
- Income per person
- $127,135
- Below the poverty line
- 4.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 85.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $336,65817,490 returns; wages 51% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 20817?
FHFA's house price index for 20817, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 45% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 38% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $1,183,600
- Median gross rent
- $3,185
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 81.4%
- Housing units
- 14,357
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 20817?
1,196 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 18 fewer than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services322
- Health care and social assistance207
- Retail trade142
- Finance and insurance82
- Real estate and rental and leasing80
- Other services (except public administration)65
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 20817?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20818 | Cabin John | 1,539 | $246k | 1.7 mi |
| 20812 | Glen Echo | 276 | $214k | 2.1 mi |
| 20814 | Bethesda | 32,795 | $151k | 2.7 mi |
| 20816 | Bethesda | 18,140 | $233k | 3.3 mi |
| 20815 | Chevy Chase | 30,505 | $195k | 4.0 mi |
| 20852 | Rockville | 48,180 | $123k | 4.0 mi |
| 20854 | Potomac | 50,498 | $250k+ | 4.4 mi |
| 20892 | Bethesda | 0 | – | 2.6 mi (near) |
| 20894 | Bethesda | 0 | – | 2.7 mi (near) |
| 20889 | Bethesda | 584 | – | 3.5 mi (near) |
| 22101 | McLean, VA | 30,953 | $250k+ | 4.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.