20878

Zip code 20878: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 20878?

20878 is assigned to Gaithersburg, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 20878 in?

20878 is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 20878?

About 66,115 people live in 20878, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 20878?

The median household income in 20878 is $144,313.

Q: What zip codes are near 20878?

The closest zip codes to 20878 are 20899, 20874, 20813, 20827, 20848.

Residential delivery areaMontgomery CountyEastern Time

Population

66,115

Median household income

$144K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$716K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,226/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

20 sq mi

3,233 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 20878

20878 is an urban zip code in Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County), covering 20 sq mi of land. About 66,115 people live here, or 3,233 per square mile. The median resident is 41.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $144,313 a year, 79% above the national median of $80,734. 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $715,800, or 5.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,226 a month.

70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.4 minutes each way, and 33% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; computer and math (tech); and business and finance. 50% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.

How 20878 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Broadband access98.2%
98th
StrengthU.S. 91% · MD 92.4%63rd of 441 in MD
Work from home33.1%
97th
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%30th of 444 in MD
Tech workers11.3%
97th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%43rd of 444 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher70.3%
95th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%33rd of 445 in MD
Diversity index70.4
94th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.725th of 446 in MD
Median earnings per worker$81,504
94th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,20084th of 443 in MD
Median household income$144,313
93rd
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,67892nd of 414 in MD
Foreign-born residents37.6%
93rd
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%14th of 446 in MD
Population66,115
92nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,0113rd of 446 in MD
Per capita income$69,431
91st
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,97972nd of 446 in MD
Median gross rent$2,226
91st
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,70548th of 338 in MD
Government workers21.7%
89th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%212th of 444 in MD
Median home value$715,800
88th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,90037th of 421 in MD
Average commute29.4 min
71st
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min267th of 421 in MD
Population density3,233/sq mi
69th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi73rd of 446 in MD
Median age41.4
68th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4229th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers10.4%
63rd
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%163rd of 444 in MD
Homeownership rate69.2%
51st
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%311th of 441 in MD
Residents under 1822%
49th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%205th of 446 in MD
Uninsured rate6.4%
46th
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%106th of 444 in MD
Residents 65 and older16%
46th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%290th of 446 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.420
37th
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456169th of 438 in MD
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%217th of 444 in MD
Healthcare workers7.7%
23rd
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%245th of 444 in MD
Rent-burdened renters41.7%
20th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%279th of 404 in MD
Housing vacancy3.5%
16th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%307th of 441 in MD
Veterans2.8%
14th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%408th of 446 in MD
Poverty rate5.2%
13th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%273rd of 441 in MD

Measure	20878	Montgomery	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Broadband accessStrength	98.2%	95.7%	92.4%	91%	98th	63rd of 441
Work from home	33.1%	28.3%	19.3%	15.1%	97th	30th of 444
Tech workers	11.3%	8.2%	6.4%	3.8%	97th	43rd of 444
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	70.3%	60.6%	43.4%	35.7%	95th	33rd of 445
Diversity index	70.4	74.1	67.7	61.4	94th	25th of 446
Median earnings per workerStrength	$81,504	$71,294	$61,200	$49,666	94th	84th of 443
Median household incomeStrength	$144,313	$132,450	$103,678	$80,734	93rd	92nd of 414
Foreign-born residents	37.6%	33.6%	16.6%	14.1%	93rd	14th of 446
Population	66,115	1,065,949	6,206,011	334,922,499	92nd	3rd of 446
Per capita incomeStrength	$69,431	$67,571	$52,979	$44,673	91st	72nd of 446
Median gross rent	$2,226	$2,068	$1,705	$1,413	91st	48th of 338
Government workers	21.7%	21.5%	22.5%	14.5%	89th	212th of 444
Median home value	$715,800	$640,300	$419,900	$332,700	88th	37th of 421
Average commute	29.4 min	31.9 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	71st	267th of 421
Population density	3,233/sq mi	2,162/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	69th	73rd of 446
Median age	41.4	40.2	39.4	38.9	68th	229th of 446
Self-employed workers	10.4%	11%	8.7%	10%	63rd	163rd of 444
Homeownership rate	69.2%	65.3%	67.6%	65.2%	51st	311th of 441
Residents under 18	22%	22.8%	22.2%	22%	49th	205th of 446
Uninsured rate	6.4%	7%	6.3%	8.4%	46th	106th of 444
Residents 65 and older	16%	17%	16.7%	17.2%	46th	290th of 446
Income inequality (Gini)	0.420	0.469	0.456	0.483	37th	169th of 438
Unemployment rate	4%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	34th	217th of 444
Healthcare workers	7.7%	8.3%	9%	9.7%	23rd	245th of 444
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.7%	51.6%	51.5%	51.1%	20th	279th of 404
Housing vacancy	3.5%	4.3%	7.7%	10.1%	16th	307th of 441
Veterans	2.8%	4.2%	6.8%	6.2%	14th	408th of 446
Poverty rateStrength	5.2%	7.5%	9.4%	12.5%	13th	273rd of 441

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

15%

35–44

15%

45–54

14%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

41.4

Under 18

22%

65 and over

16%

Race and ethnicity

White44%
Black10%
Hispanic14%
Asian27%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1.0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

70.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

37.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

25.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

50%

Spanish

12%

Other Indo-European

15%

Asian / Pacific

19%

Other

Households

Households: 24,237
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 73.3%
Married couples: 60.1%
Living alone: 22.1%
Veterans (of adults): 2.8%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

$50–75k

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

15%

$200k+

34%

Median household income

20878

$144,313

Montgomery Co.

$132,450

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$69,431

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

5.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

48.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.420

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

20878

$715,800

Montgomery Co.

$640,300

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

20878

$2,226

Montgomery Co.

$2,068

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

68%

2–4 units

5–19 units

18%

20+ units

13%

Mobile home

0.3%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 25,127
Owner-occupied: 69.2%
Vacant: 3.5%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 6.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 19.2%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

52%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.3%

Worked from home

33%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

25%

20–29

17%

30–44

23%

45–59

11%

60+

13%

Average commute

29.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Computer and math

11%

Business and finance

11%

Engineering and science

11%

Healthcare

Office and admin

Sales

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Transportation and moving

Production

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Professional and technical services

23%

Public administration

12%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Retail

Other services

Manufacturing

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Information

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

0.8%

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$81,504

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

21.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	20878	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$114,165	$74,888
Service	$25,718	$26,804
Sales and office	$46,063	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$43,857	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,500	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

11%

Some college

10%

Associate's

Bachelor's

35%

Graduate

35%

High school graduate or higher: 95.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 70.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 35.3%
Households with broadband: 98.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 91%
No internet access: 1.2%
Without health insurance: 6.4%
Limited-English households: 7.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Gaithersburg
State: Maryland
County: Montgomery County
Center point: 39.1126° N, 77.2504° W
Land area: 20 sq mi
Water area: 0.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Gaithersburg27% of zip
North Potomac (unincorporated)25% of zip
Darnestown (unincorporated)23% of zip
Travilah (unincorporated)7% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 20878

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
20899	Gaithersburg, MD	2.9 mi	57	$24,417	—
20874	Germantown, MD	3.1 mi	62,738	$115,022	$399,000
20813	Bethesda, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20827	Bethesda, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20848	Rockville, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20859	Potomac, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20875	Germantown, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20884	Gaithersburg, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20897	Suburb Maryland Fac, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20898	Gaithersburg, MD · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
20877	Gaithersburg, MD	3.7 mi	38,546	$92,800	$474,800
20850	Rockville, MD	4.1 mi	50,353	$125,950	$714,400

Zip codes like 20878 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 20878

What city is zip code 20878?

20878 is assigned to Gaithersburg, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 20878 in?

20878 is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

What is the population of 20878?

About 66,115 people live in 20878, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 20878 in?

20878 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 20878?

The median household income in 20878 is $144,313.

What zip codes are near 20878?

The closest zip codes to 20878 are 20899, 20874, 20813, 20827, 20848.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 20878, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.