SILVER SPRING, MD – How do different parts of Montgomery County compare in terms of the education, income and other characteristics of its residents? How is economic activity like employment, retail spending and office rents changing over time, and who are the largest Montgomery County employers?
In a detailed report examining a wide range of county indicators, planners have identified trends in market conditions, household characteristics, employment, housing and more – both countywide and by Council district. Montgomery County Snapshot: Council Districts by the Numbers provides a virtual encyclopedia of statistics, broken down by each of the county’s five Council districts and illustrated with easy-to-browse charts.
Knowing the people who live in Montgomery County, where they live, work and shop, how they travel, and what they spend their money on will help planners and policy-makers be fully informed as they make decisions that shape the future of our communities.
While it is widely known that Montgomery County’s population is approaching 1 million, the Montgomery Snapshot drills down to report on population characteristics. Forty-eight percent of Montgomery County residents are of a minority race, and trends suggest it will soon be a majority minority county.
The report also describes changes to county households. While household size has grown to an average of 2.75 people, up from 2.66 in 2000, demographers predict that as the population ages, the county will see a trend toward smaller family units — 2.5 people per household by 2040.
The snapshot details the unusually high education levels achieved by the majority of residents. More than half of adults in each district have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 28 percent of adults nationwide.
The report also highlights the County’s place in the regional economy. With 510,000 jobs based here, Montgomery County has the third largest employment base in the Washington metro area, trailing only the District of Columbia and Fairfax County in jobs generation.
The report puts household costs into perspective by measuring home prices and transportation costs. When researchers analyzed annual household expenses, they found that transportation costs for a resident of the northern county can be double that of a down-county resident. The fact that Silver Spring households spend an average of $9,419 on transportation each year, compared to the $18,702 average transportation bill for Darnestown households proves that a longer commute and greater auto-dependency can eliminate the perceived savings of a lower-priced home located far from urban centers.
# # #