Aerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped), 1980
Leisure World’s story
62 years in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1980 and 6 maps from 1908 on.
- 1964Leisure World is settled
Leisure WorldMD
8,882 people live in this town, settled in 1964.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
Population
8,882
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$275K
Census ACS
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
76.0
years
Jobs based here
920
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#95 of 259 in MD
Is Leisure World a good place to live?
On walkability it is strong — it is more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns. Leisure World’s overall grade, A−, puts it better than 78% of U.S. towns. Its place in the ranking is 95th of 259 in Maryland. It also does well on schools (B+) — its schools rank ahead of 72% of Maryland towns. At about $275K, a typical home costs 2.2 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. On history, just 1 of Maryland’s 329 towns do worse. On the outdoors, just 18 of Maryland’s 329 towns do worse. The town’s mean commuting time is 40 minutes, where Maryland’s towns sit at 32 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes.
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · National Register of Historic Places · USGS PAD-US.
What makes Leisure World stand out
Where Leisure World beats most towns.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Leisure World for work
Where Leisure World’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
920jobs based in Leisure World
1%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Leisure World grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Leisure World is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 3% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.6 of 20; 12.7% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsSchools do better than mostB+Open →HealthHealthier than 56% of U.S. towns; Medstar Montgomery Medical Center 3.5 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedC+Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 2% conserved landC−Open →HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 322 attractions →White House and 286 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Leisure World. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw15 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw16 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw15 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw15 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw15 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Leisure World: who provides what
Leisure World is unincorporated, so Montgomery County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPotomac Electric Power21.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWSSC WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesmontgomerycountymd.govMontgomery County provides services hereRegister to voteOnlineIn Maryland you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMontgomery County Board of ElectionsMontgomery County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code2090620906 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Mar 11, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Leisure World.
Leisure World sends many workers across the state line to Arlington, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has homes that are cheap against local pay.
Who lives here
Compared with most of Maryland and the rest of the country, more of Leisure World’s residents are 65 or older
The median household earns $62,011, against $103,678 across Maryland, one input to its C+ for jobs and income.
No town among the 261 in Maryland we compare has a higher median age than Leisure World. In Leisure World, 4.3% of residents are under 18. The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 53%, against 44% across Maryland.
76median age · MD 39.4
| Leisure World | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 77% | 16% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 4.3% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 76 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 53% | 42% | 29% |
Leisure WorldMarylandUnited States
Ages · share of residents
52%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school21%
Some college13%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate26%
Women and men · all residents
62.1% women, 37.9% men
About 61 men for every 100 women. Across Maryland, 51.3% of residents are women. Median age: women 76.4, men 74.6.
| Leisure World | MD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 1.2% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 3.1% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 1.4% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 1.8% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 3.6% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 2.8% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.6% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 25% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 52.4% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.5% | 8.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.3% | 23.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.4% | 17.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.5% | 6.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.7% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 25.6% | 20.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Top of a very low hazard risk in Leisure World: inland flooding
Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 97% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Leisure World break down as 54% from inland flooding and 12% from heat waves. One flood insurance claim has been paid in the town since 1980.
3risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesHurricanes
1
paid flood claims since 1980
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With only 0.4 jobs per working resident, most people in Leisure World work out of town
24% of working residents cross a state line to work, Arlington among the top destinations. The average commute for its 2,452 working residents takes 39.8 minutes, against 31.1 across Maryland.
The share of working residents in Leisure World who work locally: 1.5%. Since 2013, Leisure World has added 49 jobs, to 920 in 2023. The town’s middle household income comes in at $62,000. The top destinations are Washington (14%), Rockville (8%) and Bethesda (5%).
1%work in town
| Leisure World | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 40 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.5% | 3.2% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Leisure World1%
Washington14%
Rockville8%
Bethesda5%
North Bethesda5%
14 mi
median commute distance
920
jobs based in Leisure World
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Leisure World
July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 25° and about 16 inches of snow falls in a winter.
16″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–44°
Spring43–64°
Summer64–84°
Fall47–67°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Fewer of Leisure World’s adults binge drink than in the typical Maryland or U.S. town
Against the 9,417 U.S. towns with household incomes like Leisure World’s, it is healthier than 80%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Within Maryland it is less healthy than 72% of the 261 graded towns: Maryland sets a high bar.
Among 261 Maryland towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Leisure World. 6.1% of adults smoke cigarettes locally. This Maryland town beats the Maryland average on 18 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
56%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Leisure World | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.5% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 4.8% | 14% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 38% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
18 better3 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Leisure World | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 4.8% | 14.1% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.4% | 13.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 18.6% | 7.6% |
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
3.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
29th
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsC−
Conservation land takes up 2.1% of Leisure World
Just 15 of its 723 acres are conserved, so there is little public open land in Leisure World itself; its outdoors grade is C−.
2.1%conserved
2.1%
conserved · 15 of 723 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aquarius Park | — | 11 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade B−
Homes in Leisure World sell for about $254K
At 2.2 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 98% of Maryland towns; that ratio is one input to its B− for cost of living.
83% of Leisure World households are owner-occupiers. The midpoint rent for Leisure World comes to $2,054 a month. Homes sold in Leisure World spent a median 45 days on the market.
$254Kmedian sale price
| Leisure World | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,054 a month | $1,809 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 83% | 74% | 73% |
Market temperature
45
days on market
98.3%
sale-to-list price
31
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Leisure World
17pages on Leisure World
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
29 within 15 miles of the center of Leisure World
Yeshiva College of the Nations CapitalUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Silver Spring4.7 mi$11,500 tuitionMontgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rockville4.9 mi$5,394 in-state tuitionUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · College Park10.4 mi$11,809 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Leisure World residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Maryland.
About Leisure World
Census-designated place in Maryland, United States
Leisure World is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is an age-restricted, gated development primarily inhabited by retirees. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 9,215. Leisure World was known as the Rossmoor census-designated place for the 2000 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1964
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 423 ft
- Area code
- 301, 240
Leisure World’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Leisure World.
Aspen HillOlneyLeisure World
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisure World | #95 | A− | B− | — | B+ | B |
| Aspen Hill | #78 | A− | C | — | B+ | A− |
| Olney | #18 | A+ | C− | — | B+ | A+ |
Leisure World, Aspen Hill and Olney report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Leisure World with a neighbor →
Questions about Leisure World
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Leisure World, MD a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Leisure World grades A− overall, better than 78% of U.S. towns and #95 of 259 in Maryland. It grades B for health and B+ for schools.
Is Leisure World, MD expensive?
The typical home is worth about $275,000, 35% below the Maryland typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.