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La Plata, MD

Full City Profile · Maryland · Prince George's County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
10,470 Population 1,312/sq mi density
$121,707 Median Income $49,424 per capita
$405,200 Home Value $476,246 Zillow
$1,483 Median Rent 25.3% income on rent
57°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
493 Violent Crime/100K 3,313 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$121,707 median income, 2.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$405,200 home value, $1,483/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
493 violent crimes/100K (30% above avg)
B+
Education
3.7 / 5.0
33.9% bachelor's degree or higher
La Plata enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

36°F Jan (2°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average57.1°F
6% above US avg
January Average36°F (2°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation189 ft (58 m)
Area7.4 sq mi (19.3 km²)
Population Density1,312/sq mi
Coordinates38.5435°N, 76.9698°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyPrince George's County County
Nearest AirportRonald Reagan Washington Ntl (DCA)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.8"
23% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.13"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0451 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)10.4 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.08 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.17 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score93.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability49.4 / 100
Community Resilience29.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

43 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 M5.8 110 km
Aug 25, 2011 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M4.5 110 km
Aug 24, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M4.2 111 km
Mar 15, 1991 7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.8 121 km
Jul 16, 2010 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland M3.6 88 km
May 5, 2003 Virginia M3.6 134 km
Aug 24, 2011 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.4 117 km
Sep 1, 2011 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M3.4 107 km
Sep 22, 2001 5 km E of Pantops, Virginia M3.2 137 km
Jan 30, 2012 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia M3.1 111 km
May 22, 2014 15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia M3.1 148 km
Jan 17, 2016 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia M3.0 114 km
Oct 12, 2011 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 111 km
Oct 2, 2010 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia M3.0 91 km
Mar 26, 2012 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 114 km
Aug 3, 1995 13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia M2.9 130 km
Apr 21, 1998 1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia M2.8 146 km
Aug 23, 2011 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 108 km
Mar 15, 2015 6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 108 km
Jan 14, 2025 1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia M2.8 108 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

7 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 2 298 km
2011 Irene Category 1 179 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 215 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 208 km
1991 Bob Category 3 297 km
1986 Charley Category 1 201 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 216 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

429 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 12 fatalities, 354 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002 EF4 18 km 3
Sep 24, 2001 EF4 88 km 0
Feb 24, 2016 EF3 83 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF3 72 km 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 60 km 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 43 km 2
Apr 1, 1998 EF3 93 km 2
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 91 km 0
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 28 km 1
Jan 26, 1978 EF3 29 km 1
Apr 1, 1973 EF3 42 km 0
Nov 2, 1966 EF3 67 km 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 79 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 47 km 0
May 3, 2021 EF2 74 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 96 km 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 91 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 71 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF2 52 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 71 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 86 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 80 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 81 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 83 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 90 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 89 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 84 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 82 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 82 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 90 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 90 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 87 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 87 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 86 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 79 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 82 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 75 km
2009 BECKERS ISLAND 1,398 83 km
2022 ELLIOTTS ISLAND 1,324 91 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,260 79 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 36°F (2°C) 3.2 in Coldest
February 37°F (3°C) 2.9 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 3.6 in
April 55°F (13°C) 3.2 in
May 64°F (18°C) 3.9 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.6 in
July 78°F (26°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in Wettest
September 69°F (20°C) 3.7 in
October 57°F (14°C) 3.3 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.4 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.2 in

La Plata has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 36°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (2.9").

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