20879

Zip code 20879: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 20879?

20879 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 20879 in?

20879 is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 20879?

About 25,264 people live in 20879, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 20879?

The median household income in 20879 is $112,104.

Q: What zip codes are near 20879?

The closest zip codes to 20879 are 20880, 20877, 20885, 20886, 20855.

Residential delivery areaMontgomery CountyEastern Time

Population

25,264

Median household income

$112K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$468K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,942/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

8.6 sq mi

2,932 people/sq mi

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

About 20879

20879 is an urban zip code in Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County), covering 8.6 sq mi of land. About 25,264 people live here, or 2,932 per square mile. The median resident is 36.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $112,104 a year, 39% above the national median of $80,734. 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $468,100, or 4.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,942 a month.

45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 31.3 minutes each way, and 17% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; management; and office and administrative support. 52% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 20879 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Diversity index76.5
99th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.73rd of 446 in MD
Broadband access97.6%
96th
StrengthU.S. 91% · MD 92.4%83rd of 441 in MD
Foreign-born residents37.2%
93rd
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%17th of 446 in MD
Tech workers6%
86th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%168th of 444 in MD
Self-employed workers13.5%
85th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%104th of 444 in MD
Unemployment rate7.6%
84th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%60th of 444 in MD
Median gross rent$1,942
81st
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,70590th of 338 in MD
Median household income$112,104
80th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678191st of 414 in MD
Average commute31.3 min
80th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min214th of 421 in MD
Healthcare workers11.4%
75th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%88th of 444 in MD
Government workers17.5%
74th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%317th of 444 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher44.8%
73rd
U.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%163rd of 445 in MD
Median home value$468,100
71st
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900155th of 421 in MD
Work from home17%
69th
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%213th of 444 in MD
Per capita income$48,025
68th
U.S. $44,673 · MD $52,979255th of 446 in MD
Median earnings per worker$54,938
67th
U.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200268th of 443 in MD
Population density2,932/sq mi
66th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi83rd of 446 in MD
Uninsured rate8.5%
62nd
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%60th of 444 in MD
Residents under 1822.8%
57th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%172nd of 446 in MD
Homeownership rate69.8%
53rd
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%305th of 441 in MD
Rent-burdened renters49.9%
47th
U.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%201st of 404 in MD
Population25,264
40th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,011106th of 446 in MD
Residents 65 and older14.9%
37th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%320th of 446 in MD
Veterans4.7%
35th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%341st of 446 in MD
Median age36.4
30th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4368th of 446 in MD
Poverty rate7.5%
28th
U.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%199th of 441 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.409
28th
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456205th of 438 in MD
Housing vacancy1.9%
3rd
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%368th of 441 in MD

Measure	20879	Montgomery	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Diversity index	76.5	74.1	67.7	61.4	99th	3rd of 446
Broadband accessStrength	97.6%	95.7%	92.4%	91%	96th	83rd of 441
Foreign-born residents	37.2%	33.6%	16.6%	14.1%	93rd	17th of 446
Tech workers	6%	8.2%	6.4%	3.8%	86th	168th of 444
Self-employed workers	13.5%	11%	8.7%	10%	85th	104th of 444
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.6%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	84th	60th of 444
Median gross rent	$1,942	$2,068	$1,705	$1,413	81st	90th of 338
Median household incomeStrength	$112,104	$132,450	$103,678	$80,734	80th	191st of 414
Average commuteWeakness	31.3 min	31.9 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	80th	214th of 421
Healthcare workers	11.4%	8.3%	9%	9.7%	75th	88th of 444
Government workers	17.5%	21.5%	22.5%	14.5%	74th	317th of 444
Bachelor's degree or higher	44.8%	60.6%	43.4%	35.7%	73rd	163rd of 445
Median home value	$468,100	$640,300	$419,900	$332,700	71st	155th of 421
Work from home	17%	28.3%	19.3%	15.1%	69th	213th of 444
Per capita income	$48,025	$67,571	$52,979	$44,673	68th	255th of 446
Median earnings per worker	$54,938	$71,294	$61,200	$49,666	67th	268th of 443
Population density	2,932/sq mi	2,162/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	66th	83rd of 446
Uninsured rate	8.5%	7%	6.3%	8.4%	62nd	60th of 444
Residents under 18	22.8%	22.8%	22.2%	22%	57th	172nd of 446
Homeownership rate	69.8%	65.3%	67.6%	65.2%	53rd	305th of 441
Rent-burdened renters	49.9%	51.6%	51.5%	51.1%	47th	201st of 404
Population	25,264	1,065,949	6,206,011	334,922,499	40th	106th of 446
Residents 65 and older	14.9%	17%	16.7%	17.2%	37th	320th of 446
Veterans	4.7%	4.2%	6.8%	6.2%	35th	341st of 446
Median age	36.4	40.2	39.4	38.9	30th	368th of 446
Poverty rate	7.5%	7.5%	9.4%	12.5%	28th	199th of 441
Income inequality (Gini)	0.409	0.469	0.456	0.483	28th	205th of 438
Housing vacancy	1.9%	4.3%	7.7%	10.1%	3rd	368th 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

16%

25–34

13%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

36.4

Under 18

22.8%

65 and over

14.9%

Race and ethnicity

White24%
Black20%
Hispanic34%
Asian14%
Native American0.5%
Pacific Islander0%
Other3%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

76.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

37.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

33.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

48%

Spanish

23%

Other Indo-European

12%

Asian / Pacific

13%

Other

Households

Households: 8,651
Average household size: 2.9
Family households: 70.3%
Married couples: 53.6%
Living alone: 24.7%
Veterans (of adults): 4.7%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

22%

Median household income

20879

$112,104

Montgomery Co.

$132,450

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$48,025

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

33.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.409

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

20879

$468,100

Montgomery Co.

$640,300

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

20879

$1,942

Montgomery Co.

$2,068

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

72%

2–4 units

5–19 units

18%

20+ units

Mobile home

0.7%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 8,818
Owner-occupied: 69.8%
Vacant: 1.9%
Median year built: 1985
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 49.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18.2%
Home value to income: 4.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

65%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

0.5%

Bicycle

Worked from home

17%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

23%

20–29

22%

30–44

25%

45–59

13%

60+

12%

Average commute

31.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

11%

Management

10%

Office and admin

Business and finance

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Construction and repair

Computer and math

Production

Transportation and moving

Education

Food service

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Professional and technical services

14%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

11%

Education

Public administration

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$54,938

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	20879	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$86,597	$74,888
Service	$31,703	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,789	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$59,063	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,245	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

21%

Some college

17%

Associate's

Bachelor's

26%

Graduate

19%

High school graduate or higher: 90.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 18.9%
Households with broadband: 97.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 85.1%
No internet access: 1%
Without health insurance: 8.5%
Limited-English households: 8.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Gaithersburg
State: Maryland
County: Montgomery County
Center point: 39.1673° N, 77.1642° W
Land area: 8.6 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Flower Hill (unincorporated)22% of zip
Gaithersburg11% of zip
Germantown (unincorporated)4% of zip
Montgomery Village (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 20879

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
20880	Washington Grove, MD	1.9 mi	577	$134,583	$612,700
20877	Gaithersburg, MD	2.4 mi	38,546	$92,800	$474,800
20885	Gaithersburg, MD · PO box	2.5 mi	—	—	—
20886	Montgomery Village, MD	2.6 mi	34,718	$98,542	$386,500
20855	Derwood, MD	2.7 mi	17,279	$149,110	$640,300
20813	Bethesda, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20827	Bethesda, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20848	Rockville, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20859	Potomac, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20875	Germantown, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20884	Gaithersburg, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—
20897	Suburb Maryland Fac, MD · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 20879 elsewhere

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

Questions about 20879

What city is zip code 20879?

20879 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 20879 in?

20879 is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

What is the population of 20879?

About 25,264 people live in 20879, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 20879 in?

20879 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 20879?

The median household income in 20879 is $112,104.

What zip codes are near 20879?

The closest zip codes to 20879 are 20880, 20877, 20885, 20886, 20855.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 20879, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.