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City · 45,902 residents · Montgomery County, Maryland

Potomac , Maryland

In Potomac, a typical home is worth $1,157,000 and typical rent is $2,887 a month. Compared with all of Montgomery County, the typical home value is 81% higher, typical household income is 79% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,157,000

    81% above the county

    176% above Maryland

    • Potomac
    • Montgomery
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $2,887a month

    40% above the county

    69% above Maryland

    • Potomac
    • Montgomery
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $236,675a year

    79% above the county

    128% above Maryland

    • Potomac
    • Montgomery
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    85%

    19 points above the county

    17 points above Maryland

    • Potomac
    • Montgomery
    • Maryland

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,348,693
0.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$4,426 a month
4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Potomac is in Montgomery County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Montgomery County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Potomac apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Potomac has the 2nd highest typical household income of the 202 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($236,675).

  2. The typical home in Potomac is worth $1,157,000, 81% more than in Montgomery County as a whole ($640,300).

  3. Nearby, in Rockville, the typical home value is $682,300: 41% less than in Potomac ($1,157,000).

  4. 85% of households in Potomac own their home, against 65% in Montgomery County.

  5. The typical rent in Potomac is $2,887 a month, 40% more than in Montgomery County as a whole ($2,068).

  6. Nearby, in North Bethesda, the typical rent is $2,191: 24% less than in Potomac ($2,887).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Potomac

What homes there are in Potomac, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Potomac: 71% of homes, more than in Montgomery County (47%).

Year built

In Potomac, half of the homes were built before 1977; in Montgomery County, before 1980.

Homes in Potomac are bigger: 86% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Montgomery County, 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Montgomery County: 70%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Potomac rose at about the same pace as in Montgomery County: 29% against 32%.

The typical rent in Potomac rose 45% over the same time; in Montgomery County, it rose 17%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 21%, while home values changed +29% and rent +45%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePotomacMontgomery CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.7%4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.3%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.792.722.572.53
Drive alone 51%53%65%69%
Carpool 5%8%8%9%
Public transit 2%8%4%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%2%3%
Work from home 38%28%19%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Potomac look like those in Montgomery County: 2.79 people on average.

In Potomac, 38% of workers work from home, more than in Montgomery County (28%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Potomac?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Potomac, worth $1,157,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 49% of the typical household income in Potomac, which is $236,675 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $415,930 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Montgomery County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Potomac. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $40,495 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$9,705

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,136,044
Total interest
$1,634,501
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $19,539 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $5,522 a month

  • Tight

    $5,522 to $7,100 a month

  • Hard

    more than $7,100 a month

    Your payment · 49%

Compared with the typical household income in Potomac ($236,675 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$9,705
Principal & interest$7,696
Property tax$829
Home insurance$482
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$698

You need at least $40,495 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Potomac and Montgomery County

Potomac is in Montgomery County, Maryland. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Potomac's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,157,000
Typical monthly rent
$2,887
Typical yearly household income
$236,675
Households that own their home
85%
Effective property tax rate
0.86%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Montgomery County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,438
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+35%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Montgomery County.

Everything about Montgomery County

Buying

Buying a home in Potomac

A typical home in Potomac is worth $1,157,000: 81% above the county and 176% above Maryland. With the typical household income in Potomac ($236,675 a year), a typical home costs 4.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Potomac 4.9 years
  • Montgomery 4.8 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Montgomery County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Montgomery County rose 50% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Montgomery County.

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.3% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +35% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +50% +60% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Potomac next to Montgomery County, Maryland and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Potomac $1,157,000
  • Montgomery $640,300
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Potomac $2,887
  • Montgomery $2,068
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Potomac $236,675
  • Montgomery $132,450
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Potomac next to Montgomery County and Maryland
Measure Potomac Montgomery County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $1,157,000 $640,300 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,887 $2,068 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $236,675 $132,450 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 85% 65% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $5,539 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.86% 0.87% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 52% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Montgomery County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Potomac

For a typical $1,157,000 home in Potomac, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Potomac's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $9,705a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $40,495
    Cash to close
    $75,205
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $698

  • Conventional, 5% down $9,307a month

    Down payment
    $57,850
    Cash to close
    $92,560
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $550

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $7,582a month

    Down payment
    $231,400
    Cash to close
    $266,110
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $8,651a month

    Down payment
    $173,550
    Cash to close
    $208,260
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Potomac and for Montgomery County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Potomac

0.86%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Potomac.

  • Potomac 0.86%
  • Montgomery 0.87%
  • Maryland 0.97%

What Maryland publishes Homestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))

Exemptions and deadlines in Maryland

Flood risk in Montgomery County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Montgomery County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.1%
305
Of those, with NFIP insurance
51%
County Maryland U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.1% 1.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 51% 74% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Potomac

Typical rent in Potomac is $2,887 a month: 40% above the county. In Potomac, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Montgomery County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,438 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $46.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Montgomery County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,111 $40.60 $84,440
1 bedroom $2,204 $42.38 $88,160
2 bedrooms $2,438 $46.88 $97,520
3 bedrooms $3,107 $59.75 $124,280
4 bedrooms $3,658 $70.35 $146,320

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Potomac

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Potomac has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $3,660 in all of them.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Montgomery County ($2,438).

  • 20817 $3,660$4,660
  • 20854 $3,660$4,660

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Potomac when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Potomac

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Potomac. These are the largest.

  • Victory Terrace Apts 9440 Newbridge Dr, Potomac 20854 72 homes, 58 low-income · 1 bd: 50 · 2 bd: 22 · In service since 2004 · For older adults
  • Scotland Townhomes 7800 Scotland Dr, Potomac 20854 75 homes, 49 low-income · In service since 2019 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Scotland Community 7838 Scotland Dr, Potomac 20854 70 homes, 5 low-income (301) 983-2248

See all 134 buildings in Montgomery County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Potomac

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Montgomery County; 3 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Potomac

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Potomac or Montgomery County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Potomac the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maryland

  • MMP 1st Time Advantage

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • MMP Flex Loans

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Maryland SmartBuy

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Potomac

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Potomac, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.(hip)

    620 East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg · 9 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Portuguese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (301) 916-5946

  • Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.(hip)

    12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown · 12 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (301) 916-5946

  • Latino Economic Development Corporation

    12520 Prosperity Dr, Silver Spring · 13 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (202) 540-7426

Every agency in Montgomery County All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Potomac

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Potomac

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Montgomery County is named for Potomac or Montgomery County.

2 other authorities have an office in Montgomery County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Montgomery County

These cities are also in Montgomery County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Montgomery County Housing in Maryland
See 24 more cities in Montgomery County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Potomac, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Montgomery County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Potomac.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Potomac

Short answers with the numbers for Potomac and all of Montgomery County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Potomac?

The typical home value in Potomac is $1,157,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Montgomery County it is $640,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Potomac?

Typical rent in Potomac is $2,887 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Montgomery County is $2,438.

What is the FHA loan limit in Potomac?

Potomac uses the FHA limit for all of Montgomery County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Potomac?

The typical homeowner in Potomac pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.86% of the home’s value; in Montgomery County, the rate is 0.87%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Potomac?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Montgomery County. 3 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).