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Bethesda, MD

Full City Profile · Maryland · Arlington County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
67,403 Population 5,083/sq mi density
$191,348 Median Income $118,933 per capita
$1,129,700 Home Value $1,127,788 Zillow
$2,437 Median Rent 28.4% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$191,348 median income, 2.2% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.3 / 5.0
$1,129,700 home value, $2,437/mo rent
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
0 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
87.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Bethesda enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 48.5 inches. The area receives 5.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average56.2°F
4% above US avg
January Average34°F (1°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation354 ft (108 m)
Area13.3 sq mi (34.5 km²)
Population Density5,083/sq mi
Coordinates38.9873°N, 77.1186°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyArlington County County
Nearest AirportRonald Reagan Washington Ntl (DCA)
10 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.5"
28% above US avg
Snowfall 5.8"
Wettest Month (May) 4.13"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.76"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0461 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)13.8 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.23 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.3 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score66.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience64.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

41 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Jan 14, 2025.

Aug 23, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M5.8 139 km
Aug 25, 2011 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M4.5 137 km
Aug 24, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M4.2 140 km
Jul 16, 2010 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland M3.6 40 km
Sep 1, 2011 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M3.4 135 km
Aug 24, 2011 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.4 148 km
Jan 30, 2012 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia M3.1 138 km
Jun 3, 2010 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M3.1 123 km
Jan 17, 2016 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia M3.0 72 km
Oct 12, 2011 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 139 km
Oct 2, 2010 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia M3.0 131 km
Mar 26, 2012 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 142 km
Nov 14, 1997 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania M3.0 149 km
Apr 24, 2009 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.9 120 km
Sep 15, 2019 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania M2.8 106 km
Mar 15, 2015 6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 135 km
Aug 23, 2011 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 137 km
Jan 14, 2025 1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia M2.8 149 km
Oct 25, 2009 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.8 124 km
Feb 19, 2012 12 km S of Louisa, Virginia M2.7 141 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

5 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Irene (2011, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2011 Irene Category 1 209 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 259 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 259 km
1986 Charley Category 1 243 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 236 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

493 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 373 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002 EF4 49 km 3
Sep 24, 2001 EF4 88 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF3 79 km 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 95 km 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 14 km 2
Jul 19, 1996 EF3 58 km 0
May 22, 1983 EF3 80 km 0
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 23 km 1
Jan 26, 1978 EF3 56 km 1
Apr 1, 1973 EF3 28 km 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 49 km 0
Apr 5, 1952 EF3 91 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 48 km 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 40 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 67 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF2 78 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 89 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 70 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 93 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 49 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: SMITH RUN FIRE (1,908 ac, 2011).

Year Name Acres Distance
2011 SMITH RUN FIRE 1,908 94 km
1999 NCO 816 54 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 34°F (1°C) 3.1 in Coldest
February 37°F (3°C) 2.8 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 3.6 in
April 55°F (13°C) 3.2 in
May 65°F (18°C) 4.1 in Wettest
June 73°F (23°C) 3.5 in
July 78°F (26°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 76°F (24°C) 3.8 in
September 69°F (21°C) 3.7 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.3 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.4 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.2 in

Bethesda has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 34°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 41.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (2.8").

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