The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 20879 sells for about $450,000, or $285 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 22 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,942 a month.
ZIP 20879 — Gaithersburg
The 20879 housing market remains stable with moderate price appreciation and low inventory levels. Demand is supported by the area's strong employment base in the biotech sector, though high interest rates continue to temper buyer activity.
This ZIP code is ideal for families and professionals seeking a balance between suburban living and access to the D.C. metro area's employment hubs, offering a mix of townhomes and single-family residences.
Median prices moved up 3.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 22 days on market with 1.8 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
28% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 7.6% · poverty 7.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 20879
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in the Gaithersburg area are generally considered moderate, with property crime being the primary concern compared to violent crime. The area tracks closely with regional averages for Montgomery County.
Schools serving the 20879 ZIP code are part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system, which is highly regarded for its academic performance and diverse student body.
The area faces low to moderate risk from natural hazards, primarily related to localized heavy rainfall and potential flooding in low-lying areas near streams.
The area benefits from proximity to major biotech and federal employment hubs in Gaithersburg and Rockville, with ongoing transit-oriented development projects enhancing local infrastructure.
Property taxes are assessed by Montgomery County, which utilizes a base rate plus local municipal taxes; homeowners may qualify for the Maryland Homestead Property Tax Credit to limit annual assessment increases.
Residents typically face a 30-35 minute commute to major employment centers in Bethesda or Washington, D.C., utilizing I-270 or the MARC train service.
The area features extensive access to local parks such as Seneca Creek State Park and various community trails, alongside proximity to major shopping centers like Lakeforest Mall.
The rental market is competitive with low vacancy rates, driven by high demand from professionals working in the nearby technology and government sectors.
The economy is anchored by the biotechnology, life sciences, and federal government sectors, with major employers including AstraZeneca and various NIH-affiliated research facilities.
The area is served by the I-270 corridor and Ride On bus services, providing connectivity to the Shady Grove Metro station.
Ongoing redevelopment of older retail centers into mixed-use residential projects is a primary focus of local planning efforts.
The Montgomery County Department of Finance handles property assessments, which are conducted on a three-year cycle.
Parcels are subject to Montgomery County Public Schools taxes and various special taxing districts for infrastructure maintenance.
Property insurance premiums are stable, though homeowners are encouraged to maintain flood insurance due to proximity to local watersheds.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter and ACS 2024 profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Lake Fairfax Park4.616.5 mi
- Adventure Park USA4.115.2 mi
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.117.8 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park4.14 mi
- Dave & Buster's Gaithersburg4.34.1 mi
- Washington National Cathedral4.817.7 mi
- Merriweather Post Pavilion4.517 mi
- Butler's Orchard4.64.1 mi
- 9:30 Club4.619.5 mi
- The Fillmore Silver Spring4.414.6 mi
- Great Falls Park4.813 mi
- Westfield Montgomery4.410.4 mi
- Westfield Wheaton4.211.5 mi
- Glenstone4.78.6 mi
- Brookside Gardens4.810.8 mi
- Washington National Cathedral4.817.7 mi
- Glenstone4.78.6 mi
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens4.817.2 mi
- The Phillips Collection4.719.4 mi
- Glen Echo Park4.614.4 mi
- Great Falls Park4.813 mi
- Brookside Gardens4.810.8 mi
- Cabin John Ice Rink4.410 mi
- Seneca Creek State Park4.74.6 mi
- Black Hill Regional Park4.86.5 mi
- Topgolf Germantown4.34.4 mi
- Congressional Country Club4.712.2 mi
- Trump National Golf Club Washington DC412.4 mi
- Northwest Golf Course4.38.9 mi
- Needwood Golf Course4.34.2 mi
- Clarksburg Premium Outlets4.47 mi
- Westfield Montgomery4.410.4 mi
- Westfield Wheaton4.211.5 mi
- Butler's Orchard4.64.1 mi
- Rio Gaithersburg4.84 mi
- Dulles International Airport4.121.4 mi
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport4.223.5 mi
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport4.327.3 mi
- Capital One Lounge at IAD4.321 mi
- The Club BWI3.927.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Large state park offering hiking, boating, and picnic areas.
Local history museum located in the historic train station.
Major retail and dining hub serving the local community.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.