County Added 55,000 Residents Between 2010 And 2016: Report

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County's population grew by an estimated 55,000 people, or 5.6 percent, between 2010 and 2016, according to a new report from the county's planning department.

The report — which was released Thursday — offers detailed data on population characteristics, including age, race, household income, housing costs, and educational attainment.

"These Council district profiles provide useful and illuminating data not only for the County Council, but also for community members, local organizations, businesses and other stakeholders who can use this data to inform services to the communities of Montgomery County," said Caroline McCarthy, the division chief for Montgomery Planning's Research and Special Projects.

According to the report, the districts with the largest population increases were District 2, District 5, and District 3 — which grew by 6.7 percent, 6.5 percent, and 6.4 percent, respectively. Those three districts gained more than 12,500 residents between 2010 and 2016. They also outpaced the county's rate of growth.

Estimates reveal that District 3, which includes Rockville and Gaithersburg, is the most populous area in Montgomery County. The district has about 210,264 residents.

The district with the fewest residents is District 4, according to the report. This district — which includes Wheaton, Colesville, Latonsville, and Olney — has approximately 199,959 residents.

Montgomery County has more than 1 million residents, making it the most populous county in Maryland.

In the report, the planning department compared each district and listed other key differences, including race, educational attainment, and commuting factors. Below are some of their findings:

• Residents from District 1, which includes Poolesville, Potomac, and Bethesda, are the most educated, with 50.2 percent of residents earning a graduate of professional degree
  • Compared to 31.5 percent countywide
• District 2, which includes Damascus, Clarksburg, Germantown, and Darnestown, has the highest percentage of children, with 26.8 percent of its population under the age of 18
  • Compared to 23.6 percent countywide
• District 3 has the highest percentage of residents who moved within the past year: 14.6 percent
  • Compared to 12.8 percent countywide
• District 4 has the largest average household size: 3.04
  • Compared to 2.77 countywide
• Residents in District 5 have the lowest average monthly homeowner housing cost: $1,981
  • Compared to $2,270 countywide

Click here to review the county's report. To see what district you're in, click here.

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