The Town FilesSilver Spring, Maryland
Community in Montgomery County · population 81,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $643,300
- Household income
- $99,860
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 35.6
Silver Spring is a community of 81,015 people in Montgomery County, Maryland. The median home is worth $643,300, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Maryland towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Maryland towns, better transit than 97% of Maryland towns.
How Silver Spring ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Silver Spring is worth $643,300, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $99,860, which is more affordable than 4% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,913 a month. 38.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Silver Spring | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $643,300 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,913 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $99,860 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 38.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Silver Spring
| People | Silver Spring | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.9% | — |
| Work from home | 27.3% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 94.3% |
Weather in Silver Spring
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Spring since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 462,298 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,473 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Silver Spring itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Silver Spring
55 public schools with 42,899 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | 9-12 | 3,261 | 16.7 |
| Wheaton High | 9-12 | 2,747 | 16.4 |
| Springbrook High | 9-12 | 1,874 | 16.0 |
| John F. Kennedy High | 9-12 | 1,854 | 14.8 |
| James Hubert Blake High | 9-12 | 1,809 | 16.8 |
| Northwood High | 9-12 | 1,745 | 13.5 |
| Takoma Park Middle | 6-8 | 1,124 | 15.8 |
| Silver Spring International Middle | 6-8 | 1,062 | 15.2 |
| Francis Scott Key Middle | 6-8 | 991 | 14.2 |
| A. Mario Loiederman Middle | 6-8 | 981 | 13.3 |
| Argyle Middle | 6-8 | 919 | 13.9 |
| Eastern Middle | 6-8 | 910 | 14.0 |
Towns near Silver Spring
- Four Corners, MD1.6 mi · 8,316 people · home $620,400
- Forest Glen, MD1.7 mi · 6,897 people · home $606,100
- Takoma Park, MD1.8 mi · 17,629 people · home $749,200
- Langley Park, MD2.3 mi · 20,126 people · home $357,200
- Burnt Mills, MD2.5 mi · 3,592 people · home $574,300
- South Kensington, MD2.6 mi · 8,829 people · home $919,800
- Kemp Mill, MD2.7 mi · 13,378 people · home $596,600
- Adelphi, MD2.9 mi · 16,823 people · home $425,200
Silver Spring questions
Is Silver Spring, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Silver Spring scores better for retirees than 22% of Maryland towns and quieter than 4%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Silver Spring?
The median owner-occupied home in Silver Spring is valued at $643,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,860, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,913 a month.
What is the weather like in Silver Spring?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Silver Spring get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Spring since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)