Area data
Darnestown, MD — ZIP 20878
Population: 66,115 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 20878 (Darnestown, MD) is $692,469 — down 1.2% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $924,125 after a median 25 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,376/month. 13 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with winterweather, hail, heatwave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 8.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$692,469
Median home value
-1.2%
1-year change
25
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $692,469
- 1-year appreciation
- -1.2%
- 3-year appreciation
- +4.9%
- 5-year appreciation
- +12.5%
- 10-year appreciation
- +36.1%
- All-time peak (2025-04)
- $706,583
- House Price Index (state)
- 367.5 (+0.7% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $924,125
- Median list price
- $930,000
- Median price per sqft
- $308
- 1-year sale-price change
- -4.5%
- Median days on market
- 25 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 88
- For-sale inventory
- 193
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.8%
- Active listings
- 74
- 1-year forecast
- -0.5%
- Days to pending
- 27 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 81
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,376/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +1.4%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $2,100/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $2,160/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $2,410/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $3,040/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $3,580/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 108.0 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 19.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.10/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 13
- Elementary schools
- 10
- Middle schools
- 2
- High schools
- 1
- Schools include
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Brown Station Elementary, Darnestown Elementary, Diamond Elementary, DuFief Elementary
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- winterWeather, hail, heatWave, inlandFlooding, lightning
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Moderate
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 11% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 45.4%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Hidden Lane Landfill (10.1 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 58.0°F
- Average high
- 67.0°F
- Average low
- 48.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 39.2 in
- Annual snowfall
- 2.2 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7b (extreme annual low 5 to 10°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 42
- Days with Good air quality
- 291
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 61
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 3
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 165
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 16.0 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 752
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 136,638
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 107,917
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 60
- Nearest national park
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (8 mi)
- National parks include
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls Park, Glen Echo Park
- Airports within 30 mi
- 31
- Nearest airport
- Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) (6 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (16 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 21
- Hospitals include
- GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV HOSPITAL, MEDSTAR GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.1 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.2 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -6,292 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,987
- Housing built before 1970
- 7.2%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 22.9%
- Median annual property tax
- $6,348
- Mean commute to work
- 20 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 91.0%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 364,740
- Average weekly wage
- $1,688
- Top industries (by employment)
- Professional Services, Health Care, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 1,491
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 20878 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $692,469 | $452,533 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $924,125 | $450,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 25 days | 40 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $2,376/mo | $2,002/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $6,348 | $3,862 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 20878?
- $692,469.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 20878?
- $924,125.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 20878?
- Median days on market: 25 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 20878?
- Typical rent: $2,376/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 20878?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: winterWeather, hail, heatWave, inlandFlooding, lightning.
- Is ZIP 20878 in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 20878?
- Risk to homes is higher than 11% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 20878?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 20878?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 20878?
- 13 schools (10 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 20878 walkable?
- Walkability index: 16.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 20878?
- Good. Median AQI: 42. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 20878?
- Regional Price Parity: 108.0 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →