Gaithersburg, MD vs Palo Alto, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gaithersburg
68.7
#1291 nationally
Palo Alto
67.4
#1429 nationally
Palo Alto leads in median household income ($214,118 vs $104,544). Palo Alto leads in average commute (23.9 min vs 30.5 min). Palo Alto leads in crime level (5.8 vs 6.9).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gaithersburg, MD | Palo Alto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.7 (#1291) | 67.4 (#1429) |
| Population | 69,563 | 65,882 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $522,428 | $3,599,324 |
| Median Household Income | $104,544 | $214,118 |
| Average Commute | 30.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Walk Score | 52 | 61 |
| Crime Level | 6.9 | 5.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 141 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.3 | D+40.0 |
D+
68.7 Score
Gaithersburg, MD
Maryland community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$522,428
Population
69,563
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
52
Northeast
View Gaithersburg, MD →
D+
67.4 Score
Palo Alto, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$3,599,324
Population
65,882
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Palo Alto, CA →
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