PlainZIP

Silver Spring, MD · standard

ZIP Code 20905

Montgomery County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

18,044
542/sq mi
$159,740
Median income
$656,700
Median home value
56.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Silver Spring pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 3%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 7%
home value, US ZIPs
542
people per sq mi
87%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20905 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 20905 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland, home to 18,044 residents across 33.3 square miles, a density of 542 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 20905 skews affluent, with a median household income of $159,740 (40% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $59,049. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 6.2%. Median home value sits at $656,700 (47% above the state average), median rent at $2,105 a month, and owner-occupancy at 87.1%.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 56.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.8, and the average commute is 35 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 20905, plus 6 more within Montgomery County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 20905

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Silver Spring, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20905.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 20905, Silver Spring, 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

18,044

Population

33.3

Area (sq mi)

542

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 20905?

44.8

Median Age

51.2%

Male

48.8%

Female

28.4%

Foreign-Born

White 35.5%
African American 29.7%
Asian 14.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%

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?

$159,740

Median Household Income

+40% vs state

$59,049

Per Capita Income

5.7%

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Unemployment Rate

35.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 20905 ranks nationally

Silver Spring, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$159,740 Top 3% higher than 97% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). This entry sits in this band. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 74.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 56.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,119

Total Housing Units

5,899

Occupied Units

220

Vacant Units

3.22

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 87.1%
Renter 12.9%

$656,700

Median Home Value

+47% vs state

$2,105

Median Rent

1981

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

+2.3%

YoY Change (2024)

253

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+153%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 20905 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +153% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.6% 193
2021 +9.6% 211
2022 +10.0% 233
2023 +6.3% 247
2024 +2.3% 253

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 299 business establishments in ZIP 20905, employing approximately 1,902 people with a combined annual payroll of $89,725,000.

299

Businesses

1,902

Employees

$89.7M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 67 22.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 60 20.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 43 14.4%
Health care and social assistance 29 9.7%
Other services (except public administration) 26 8.7%
Accommodation and food services 17 5.7%
Retail trade 14 4.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 12 4.0%
Educational services 11 3.7%
Wholesale trade 4 1.3%
Information 4 1.3%
Finance and insurance 4 1.3%
Transportation and warehousing 3 1.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.0%

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 20905 vs 20868 →

ZIP 20905 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20905 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 20905 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 20905 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
20868 Spencerville, MD 790 1.6 mi
20861 Ashton, MD 1,875 2.8 mi
20904 Silver Spring, MD 54,612 3.2 mi
20866 Burtonsville, MD 13,344 3.2 mi
20860 Sandy Spring, MD 2,396 3.2 mi
20777 Highland, MD 3,314 4.5 mi
20906 Silver Spring, MD 64,696 3.8 mi
20862 Brinklow, MD 343 5.1 mi
20903 Silver Spring, MD 23,625 6.4 mi
20901 Silver Spring, MD 34,832 6.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Montgomery County

20906 standard
Silver Spring, MD
Pop: 64,696
20878 standard
Gaithersburg, MD
Pop: 62,446
20874 standard
Germantown, MD
Pop: 57,367
20904 standard
Silver Spring, MD
Pop: 54,612
20854 standard
Potomac, MD
Pop: 49,611
20902 standard
Silver Spring, MD
Pop: 48,841

Related Areas

Montgomery County Silver Spring, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 20905 in? ▼
ZIP code 20905 (Silver Spring) 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 20905? ▼
ZIP code 20905 in Silver Spring, MD has a population of 18,044 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20905? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 20905 is $159,740, which is 109% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20905? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 20905 is $656,700, which is 136% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20905? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 20905 is White at 35.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20905? ▼
ZIP code 20905 has 299 business establishments employing approximately 1,902 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20905? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20905 are: Construction (67), Professional, scientific, and technical services (60), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (43). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20905? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20905 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 153%. 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 20905? ▼
In ZIP code 20905, 74.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 56.9% 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 20905? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20905 is 35.3 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 20905? ▼
In ZIP code 20905, approximately 87.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20905? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20905 is 5.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.