Beltsville, MD vs Riverdale Park, MD

Beltsville, MD and Riverdale Park, MD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Beltsville scores 130 while Riverdale Park scores 126 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Beltsville is $1,989/month compared to $1,668/month in Riverdale Park — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Riverdale Park has cheaper rent, Beltsville actually has lower median home values ($381,100 vs $447,000).

Median household income in Beltsville is $97,115 compared to $104,583 in Riverdale Park (-7.1%). Riverdale Park offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Beltsville spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Riverdale Park.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (59.3°F vs 59.3°F). Riverdale Park receives more rainfall at 41.8" per year compared to 41.8" in Beltsville.