Gaithersburg, MD Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Gaithersburg, MD Crime

Is Gaithersburg, MD safe in 2026?

Gaithersburg earns a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) — a strong indicator for a city of nearly 68,000 residents. Across the four neighborhoods analyzed, 75% received an A grade and 25% received a B grade, meaning 100% of neighborhoods fall into the safe category. Standout areas include North Potomac (A+) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology campus area (A+), both of which rank among the safest communities in the entire region. Even the city's most densely populated neighborhood, Gaithersburg proper, holds a solid B+ grade, reflecting low crime relative to national benchmarks.

What is the crime rate in Gaithersburg, MD?

Gaithersburg's overall crime picture is favorable. The city's Overall Crime Grade is C on a national scale — meaning it performs at roughly an average level when compared to all U.S. cities — but its neighborhood-level safety grades tell a much more encouraging story. At the neighborhood level, three of four areas (75%) earned an A grade and one (25%) earned a B grade, with zero neighborhoods receiving a C, D, or F. This gap between the city-level grade and the neighborhood grades often reflects how a small number of incidents in a concentrated area can affect a city-wide metric, while the majority of residents live in genuinely low-crime zones. With a poverty rate of just 9% and a median household income of $91,845, Gaithersburg's socioeconomic profile also supports its relatively low crime environment.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Gaithersburg?

Based on 2026 data, the safest neighborhoods in Gaithersburg are:

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — Grade: A+: This area has a population of roughly 1,134 and a median household income of $196,972, the second-highest among analyzed neighborhoods. Its A+ grade places it in the top tier of safety locally and nationally.
2. North Potomac — Grade: A+: The largest safe neighborhood analyzed, with a population of 26,394 and a median income of $192,209. North Potomac's combination of size and an A+ grade makes it particularly notable — safety at scale is rare and meaningful for families and homebuyers.
3. Laytonsville — Grade: A: A smaller community of 391 residents with the highest median income in the dataset at $206,996. Laytonsville's A grade and affluent profile make it one of the quieter, lower-crime pockets in the Gaithersburg area.
4. Gaithersburg (city core) — Grade: B+: With a population of 69,875 and a median income of $112,308, the main Gaithersburg neighborhood is the most populous area analyzed. Its B+ grade means it still ranks well above average for safety, even while serving as the commercial and residential hub of the city.

Is Gaithersburg a good place to live in 2026?

By nearly every measurable indicator, yes. Gaithersburg offers a compelling quality-of-life profile: a median household income of $91,845, a median home value of $413,282, and a median rent of $1,754 — figures that reflect a stable, middle-to-upper-middle-class community. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is slightly above the national average, but the poverty rate of just 9% suggests that economic hardship is not widespread. From a safety standpoint, 100% of analyzed neighborhoods earn an A or B grade, and the city-wide rating is Very Safe (A). Families considering North Potomac or the NIST area will find A+ safety grades paired with high household incomes, while those drawn to the city core can expect a B+ safety environment with strong amenities and community infrastructure. Overall, Gaithersburg ranks as one of the safer mid-sized cities in Maryland.

How does Gaithersburg compare to other Maryland cities for safety?

Gaithersburg's neighborhood-level safety profile — with 75% of neighborhoods graded A and 25% graded B — places it well above many Maryland cities where C, D, or F grades are common. The city's Very Safe (A) city-wide rating is a distinction not all Maryland municipalities can claim. High-income neighborhoods like North Potomac ($192,209 median income, A+ grade) and Laytonsville ($206,996 median income, A grade) are comparable in safety to the most secure suburban communities in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The overall Crime Grade of C at the city level reflects national comparisons across all city sizes and types, but for residents living and working in Gaithersburg's specific neighborhoods, the day-to-day safety experience aligns much closer to those A and B neighborhood grades.