Fort Washington, MD vs Gaithersburg, MD

Gaithersburg is moderately more affordable than Fort Washington, with a 14.4% lower cost of living index. Fort Washington scores 159 compared to 139 for Gaithersburg, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Washington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Washington is $2,724/month compared to $2,008/month in Gaithersburg — a 36% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gaithersburg has cheaper rent, Fort Washington actually has lower median home values ($464,300 vs $484,500).

Median household income in Fort Washington is $145,942 compared to $107,496 in Gaithersburg (+35.8%). While Fort Washington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Washington spend roughly 22.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.4% in Gaithersburg.

Climate-wise, Fort Washington is notably warmer with an average of 59.3°F compared to 55.7°F in Gaithersburg. Gaithersburg receives more rainfall at 43.2" per year compared to 41.8" in Fort Washington.