Gaithersburg, MD · standard
ZIP Code 20879
Montgomery County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 24,360
- 1,226/sq mi High-density area
- $112,104
- Median income Above-median income area
- $468,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 44.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Gaithersburg pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 12%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,226
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20879 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 20879 (Gaithersburg, MD) rose +2.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 279.6 in 2023 to 285.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20879 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland, with 24,360 residents across 19.9 square miles, a density of 1,226 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20879 skews affluent, with a median household income of $112,104 (2% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $48,025. The poverty rate is 7.5%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $468,100 (5% above the average Maryland ZIP) and median rent is $1,942; 69.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 44.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.4, and the average commute is 31 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Montgomery County, so 20879 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 20879
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gaithersburg, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20879.
- Construction
Construction
164 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
128 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
112 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
84 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
81 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 20879, Gaithersburg, 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
24,360
Population
19.9
Area (sq mi)
1,226
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20879?
36.4
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
37.2%
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?
$112,104
Median Household Income
-2% vs state ZIP avg
$48,025
Per Capita Income
7.5%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
31.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20879 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Gaithersburg, MD household income vs. every Maryland ZIP code
Median household income among 419 reporting Maryland ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$112,104 Top 46% higher than 54% of 419 Maryland ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maryland 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
8,818housing units
8,818
Total Housing Units
8,651
Occupied Units
167
Vacant Units
2.91
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$468,100
Median Home Value
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$1,942
Median Rent
1985
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
+2.2%
YoY Change (2024)
286
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+186%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20879 have increased 2.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +186% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 203 |
| 2021 | +11.1% | 225 |
| 2022 | +15.5% | 260 |
| 2023 | +7.5% | 280 |
| 2024 | +2.2% | 286 |
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 961 business establishments in ZIP 20879, employing approximately 16,628 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,208,263,000.
961
Businesses
16,628
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 164 | 17.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 128 | 13.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 112 | 11.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 84 | 8.7% |
| Retail trade | 81 | 8.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 73 | 7.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 65 | 6.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 61 | 6.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 46 | 4.8% |
| Manufacturing | 42 | 4.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 36 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 29 | 3.0% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.3% |
| Information | 11 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.5% |
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 20879 vs 20886 →
ZIP 20879 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20878
Gaithersburg (20878)
62,446 residents
- 20850
Rockville (20850)
46,340 residents
- 20877
Gaithersburg (20877)
34,321 residents
- 20886
Montgomery Village (20886)
33,282 residents
- 20876
Germantown (20876)
25,496 residents
- 20832 24,965
Olney (20832)
24,965 residents
- 20879 24,360
Gaithersburg (20879)
24,360 residents
- 20855 14,295
Derwood (20855)
14,295 residents
- 20882 14,063
Gaithersburg (20882)
14,063 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20879 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20879 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20882
Gaithersburg (20882)
$184,136 median income
- 20832
Olney (20832)
$168,524 median income
- 20855
Derwood (20855)
$149,110 median income
- 20878
Gaithersburg (20878)
$144,313 median income
- 20880
Washington Grove (20880)
$134,583 median income
- 20850
Rockville (20850)
$125,950 median income
- 20876
Germantown (20876)
$119,731 median income
- 20879
Gaithersburg (20879)
$112,104 median income
- 20886
Montgomery Village (20886)
$98,542 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20879 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20886 | Montgomery Village, MD | 33,282 | 1.2 mi |
| 20880 | Washington Grove, MD | 450 | 2.0 mi |
| 20877 | Gaithersburg, MD | 34,321 | 2.1 mi |
| 20899 | Gaithersburg, MD | 142 | 2.8 mi |
| 20855 | Derwood, MD | 14,295 | 3.2 mi |
| 20850 | Rockville, MD | 46,340 | 5.4 mi |
| 20882 | Gaithersburg, MD | 14,063 | 4.7 mi |
| 20876 | Germantown, MD | 25,496 | 4.1 mi |
| 20832 | Olney, MD | 24,965 | 5.7 mi |
| 20878 | Gaithersburg, MD | 62,446 | 5.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20879, 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 (24,360 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 20879 in?
ZIP code 20879 (Gaithersburg) 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 20879?
ZIP code 20879 in Gaithersburg, MD has a population of 24,360 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20879?
The median household income in ZIP 20879 is $112,104, which is 47% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20879?
The median home value in ZIP 20879 is $468,100, which is 68% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20879?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20879 is White at 34.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 34.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20879?
ZIP code 20879 has 961 business establishments employing approximately 16,628 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20879?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20879 are: Construction (164), Professional, scientific, and technical services (128), Other services (except public administration) (112). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20879?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20879 increased by 2.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 186%. 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 20879?
In ZIP code 20879, 66.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 44.8% 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 20879?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20879 is 31.3 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 20879?
In ZIP code 20879, approximately 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 30.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20879?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20879 is 7.5% 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 20879's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20879 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gaithersburg, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.