Potomac Electric Power Co. miscellaneous. CBS station, 1920
Wheaton’s story
157 years in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1878 and 6 maps from 1908 on.
- 1869Wheaton is settled
WheatonMD
A city of 52,926, settled in 1869.
8 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
52,926
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$501K
Census ACS
Household income
$111K
median
Median age
37.7
years
Jobs based here
8,645
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#87 of 259 in MD
Is Wheaton a good place to live?
Wheaton's standout: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 98% of U.S. towns. Overall it grades A−, 87th among Maryland's 259 graded towns. Residents are healthier than 75% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and natural-hazard risk is low. 22% of the land in Wheaton is conserved, above both the Maryland town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 27 of Maryland’s 329 towns score higher on the outdoors. The biggest place to walk is Wheaton Regional Park, 536 acres with 6.8 miles of trail.
What makes Wheaton stand out
Where Wheaton beats most towns.
Get outside
12 miles of trails in Wheaton
21.9% of the town is conserved land, across 21 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Wheaton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Wheaton is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.9 of 20; 12.1% of households have no carA+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA+Open →HealthWalter Reed National Military Medical Cen 3.9 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $501K, 4 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household incomeCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income$111K median household income; 8,645 jobs based hereBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
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 288 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Wheaton. Close and well known come first.
Big draw11 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw11 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw12 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw11 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw11 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw11 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 Wheaton: who provides what
Wheaton 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
Internet5 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 codes20902, 20906, 20853, 2089520902 64% · 20906 31% · 20853 3% · 20895 2%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 Wheaton.
Wheaton sends many workers across the state line and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
OutdoorsA
Wheaton earns an A for the outdoors
The trail network density for Wheaton comes to 1.7 miles per square mile, above both Maryland’s towns (0.6) and U.S. towns (0.4). There are 12 miles of trail across 21 parks and preserves.
#37for trails in MD
21.9%
conserved · 968 of 4,418 acres
12 mi
of trails · 1.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wheaton Regional Park | 6.8 mi | 536 |
| 2. Rock Creek Stream Valley Park | 1.5 mi | 138 |
| 3. Brookside Gardens | 0.7 mi | 27 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Wheaton’s public schools outperform 72% of Maryland districts
Of its 16 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason. Public schools: the Montgomery County Public Schools. The 6 public schools in Wheaton teach 3,740 students between them.
72%of MD districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Mario Loiederman MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 978 | B− |
| Wheaton HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,794 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MD on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Wheaton faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
The FEMA risk score in Wheaton is 7 of 100. Since 1978, 18 flood insurance claims have been paid out locally. FEMA puts 47% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 13% to heat waves. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Wheaton once, in 2003.
7risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesEarthquakes
18
paid flood claims since 1978
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA−
Wheaton earns an A− for health
Against the 6,940 U.S. towns with household incomes like Wheaton’s, it is healthier than 54%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
For adults in Wheaton, the share who report frequent mental distress is 14%. Of 32 CDC measures, Wheaton beats the Maryland average on 9 and trails it on 10. Two figures for adults in the town: 18% have been diagnosed with depression, 30% have obesity.
75%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Wheaton | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 8% | 8.1% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 79% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 20% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 36% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
9 better13 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Wheaton | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.2% | 7.6% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 18.8% | 25.8% |
| More uninsured adults | 16.2% | 8.7% |
Walter Reed National Military Medical Cen
3.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
52nd
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Wheaton has 0.4 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
22% of working residents cross a state line to work.
The top destinations are Washington (21%), Rockville (8%) and Bethesda (7%). Commuting out is the norm in Wheaton: 4% of working residents work locally. The share of residents in Wheaton who live below the poverty line: 13%. Half commute less than 9 miles.
4%work in town
| Wheaton | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 20% | 18% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $111,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Wheaton4%
Washington21%
Rockville8%
Bethesda7%
North Bethesda5%
9 mi
median commute distance
8,645
jobs based in Wheaton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Wheaton has four seasons and pleasant summers
The range runs from 26° on a January night to 87° on a July afternoon, with about 16 inches of snow a winter.
16″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–45°
Spring43–65°
Summer65–85°
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
Who lives here
An age mix much like Maryland’s
Here, 39% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, against 44% in Maryland as a whole. By age, Wheaton looks like Maryland: each broad group is within 4 points. 19% never finished high school.
37.7median age · MD 39.4
| Wheaton | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 37.7 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 42% | 29% |
WheatonMarylandUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma19%
High school20%
Some college17%
Associate’s5%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate20%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.4 points. Across Maryland, 51.3% of residents are women. Median age: women 37.9, men 37.5.
| Wheaton | MD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.8% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.7% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.4% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.8% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.8% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.3% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.9% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.4% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 19.3% | 8.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 20% | 23.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.1% | 17.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 4.9% | 6.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.6% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 20.1% | 20.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Wheaton sell for about $582K
A home in Wheaton typically sold within 35 days of listing. The rent at the middle of the market for Wheaton comes to $2,163 a month. Nearly two thirds of households are owner-occupiers in the town.
$582Kmedian sale price
| Wheaton | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,163 a month | $1,809 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 74% | 73% |
Market temperature
35
days on market
100.4%
sale-to-list price
28
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wheaton
18pages on Wheaton
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
34 within 15 miles of the center of Wheaton
Yeshiva College of the Nations CapitalUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Silver Spring1.6 mi$11,500 tuitionMontgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rockville6.4 mi$5,394 in-state tuitionUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · Washington, DC7.3 mi$5,662 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Wheaton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maryland.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Wheaton for work
Where Wheaton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
8,645jobs based in Wheaton
4%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Wheaton
4 notable people were born in Wheaton.
About Wheaton
Census-designated place in Maryland, United States
Wheaton is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, situated north of Washington, D.C., and northwest of downtown Silver Spring. Wheaton takes its name from Frank Wheaton (1833–1903), a career officer in the United States Army and volunteer from Rhode Island in the Union Army who rose to the rank of major-general while serving before, during, and after the Civil War. Wheaton had a population of 52,150 at the 2020 census. The United States Postal Service has assigned ZIP code 20902 to Wheaton, but the Wheaton Post Office is a part of the larger Silver Spring area. Downtown Wheaton is located around the triangle formed by Veirs Mill Road, University Boulevard, …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1700
- Area
- 6.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 387 ft
- Area code
- 301, 240
Wheaton’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Wheaton.
All 7 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its A−; Aspen Hill (A−) is closest.
GlenmontNorth BethesdaKemp MillAspen HillNorth KensingtonForest GlenSouth KensingtonColesvilleWheaton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton | #87 | A− | C | — | B+ | A− |
| Glenmont | #66 | A | C− | — | B+ | A− |
| North Bethesda | #34 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Kemp Mill | #46 | A | C | — | B+ | A |
| Aspen Hill | #78 | A− | C | — | B+ | A− |
| North Kensington | #10 | A+ | C | — | B+ | A+ |
| Forest Glen | #7 | A+ | C+ | — | B+ | A |
| South Kensington | #47 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
Wheaton, Glenmont, North Bethesda, Kemp Mill, Aspen Hill, North Kensington, Forest Glen and South Kensington report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Wheaton with a neighbor →
Questions about Wheaton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wheaton, MD a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Wheaton grades A− overall, better than 81% of U.S. towns and #87 of 259 in Maryland. It grades A− for health and B+ for schools.
Is Wheaton, MD expensive?
The typical home is worth about $501,000, 18% 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 C.
What is Wheaton, MD known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Michael Parsons and Diana Barrera.