Untitled photo, 2007
National Harbor’s story
National Harbor in pictures
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National HarborMD
Some 4,454 people live in this town, in Maryland.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Devin Morris · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
4,454
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$473K
Census ACS
Household income
$110K
median
Median age
48.6
years
Jobs based here
8,258
A job hub
TownGrade
C
#215 of 259 in MD
Is National Harbor a good place to live?
A town of contrasts. Where it falls short is schools: its public schools trail 92% of Maryland towns on state tests and graduation. National Harbor ranks 215th of 259 in Maryland, with a C overall. Set against the rest, it does better than 30% of U.S. towns. At about $472K, a typical home costs 3.7 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. On walkability it is strong: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 96% of U.S. towns. Only 28 of Maryland’s 329 towns score lower on history. Its going rate for rent is $2,271 a month, above both Maryland’s towns ($1,809 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month).
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · National Register of Historic Places.
What makes National Harbor stand out
Where National Harbor beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here8,258
Residents who work2,120
Work
3.9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Natural hazardsA+
Lower risk than 95% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
7% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
National Harbor has grown 45% from 2010 to 2020
3,788 counted in 2010 and 5,509 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How National Harbor grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far National Harbor is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for hazard risk (better than 97% of comparable towns) to D for schools (better than 8%), so the C overall blends very different results.
Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 5% of households have no carA+Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsDOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $473K, 3.7 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household incomeDOpen →HealthUnited Medical Center 3.8 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$110K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 7% conserved landBOpen →HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 311 attractions →White House and 251 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around National Harbor. Close and well known come first.
Big draw8 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw7 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw7 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw8 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw7 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw8 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 National Harbor: who provides what
National Harbor is unincorporated, so Prince George's 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 servicesPrince George's CountyPrince George's County provides services here
Register 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 herePrince George's County Board of ElectionsPrince George's County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP codes20745, 2074420745 97% · 20744 3%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 National Harbor.
National Harbor draws workers from Washington and beyond and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
For most of its workers, the job is outside National Harbor
8,258 jobs are based in National Harbor, 3.9 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 40% of working residents cross a state line to work, Arlington among the top destinations.
In National Harbor, 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Most working residents leave National Harbor for work: only 5% work in town. Employers in National Harbor added 4,401 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 8,258. The town’s typical journey to work stands at 35 minutes.
5%work in town
| National Harbor | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 35 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $110,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.7% | 3.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In National Harbor5%
Washington28%
Arlington5%
Alexandria4%
Tysons3%
10 mi
median commute distance
8,258
jobs based in National Harbor
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
National Harbor has a very low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
FEMA puts 58% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 9% to hurricanes. In National Harbor, the FEMA hazard score is 5 of 100. Paid flood insurance claims here since 1979: 4.
5risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesHeat waves
4
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
National Harbor ranks healthier than 70% of the country’s towns
Against the 7,189 U.S. towns with household incomes like National Harbor’s, it is less healthy than 53%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Among adults 18 to 64 in National Harbor, 10% have no health insurance. On the CDC’s 32 measures, National Harbor is ahead of Maryland on 7 and behind on 2. In National Harbor, 43% of adults sleep under 7 hours, and 13% report frequent mental distress.
71%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| National Harbor | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 20% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
7 better23 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | National Harbor | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.9% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.5% | 7.6% |
| More adults sleeping under 7 hours | 42.6% | 37.7% |
United Medical Center
3.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
47th
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In National Harbor, expect four seasons and hot summers
Summer afternoons peak near 89° in July, and January nights bottom out around 27°; snowfall runs to about 13 inches a winter. The seasons in National Harbor: chilly winters, warm summers.
13″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–47°
Spring45–67°
Summer67–87°
Fall49–69°
Nov 8
typical first frost
Apr 3
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 7.4% of National Harbor
There are 0.4 miles of trail across 1 park or preserve. National Harbor’s trail density comes in at 0.3 miles per square mile. One park or preserve covers 10 acres here.
7.4%conserved
| National Harbor | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 7.4% | 9.5% | 4.3% |
7.4%
conserved · 79 of 1,056 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rosilie Island Community Park | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade D
Homes in National Harbor sell for about $579K
For households in National Harbor, the share who are owner-occupiers is 58%. 44% of the homes sold in National Harbor went for more than their asking price. On the market here: a median 78 days to sell.
$579Kmedian sale price
| National Harbor | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,271 a month | $1,809 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 58% | 74% | 73% |
Market temperature
78
days on market
101.7%
sale-to-list price
11
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about National Harbor
17pages on National Harbor
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
34 within 15 miles of the center of National Harbor
Washington University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Alexandria, VA4.1 mi$13,785 tuitionUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · Washington, DC11.5 mi$5,662 in-state tuitionPrince George's Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Largo12.3 mi$4,034 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 National Harbor residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maryland.
A job hub
Every workday, about 8,159 people come to National Harbor for work
Where National Harbor’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
8,258jobs based in National Harbor
5%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About National Harbor
Census-designated place in Maryland, United States
National Harbor is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located along the Potomac River near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and just south of Washington, D.C. It originated as a 300-acre (1.2 km2) multi-use waterfront development. The population was 5,509 at the 2020 census. The developer, Peterson Companies, says National Harbor draws 12 million visitors annually, as of 2025.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
National Harbor’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with National Harbor.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C; Fort Washington (C+) is closest.
Forest HeightsFort WashingtonOxon HillNational Harbor
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Harbor | #215 | C | D | — | D | B+ |
| Forest Heights | #183 | C+ | B | — | D | C+ |
| Fort Washington | #185 | C+ | C− | — | D | B+ |
| Oxon Hill | #168 | B− | B− | — | D | B− |
National Harbor, Forest Heights, Fort Washington and Oxon Hill report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare National Harbor with a neighbor →
Questions about National Harbor
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is National Harbor, MD a good place to live?
National Harbor grades C overall, better than 30% of U.S. towns and #215 of 259 in Maryland. It grades B+ for health and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
Is National Harbor, MD expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $473,000, 11% above 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 D.