Bethesda, Montgomery County, MD
Bethesda housing market
Price change over 12 months
Over the last 12 months the median detached house in Bethesda sold for $1,469,000, 8.2% lower than the 12 months before, on 736 sales.
How does Bethesda compare? Its change is the weakest of the five Montgomery County cities with their own page. Rockville did best (0.0%). The next weakest was Chevy Chase (−5.3%).
A 12-month median moves with the mix of houses that happened to sell, so a change of a few percent in a smaller city can come from a handful of large or small sales.
Detached houses, last 12 months against the 12 before
| City | Homes sold | Median price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockville | 685 | $710,000 | 0.0% |
| Silver Spring | 1,283 | $650,000 | 0.0% |
| Potomac | 444 | $1,360,500 | −2.8% |
| Chevy Chase | 247 | $1,600,000 | −5.3% |
| Bethesda | 736 | $1,469,000 | −8.2% |
Prices by home type
The chart tracks median prices of detached houses, townhouses and condos in Bethesda over ten years, one line each, so a shift in which homes sold does not read as a price change.
What is the median home price in Bethesda? $1,325,000 for all homes sold over the last 12 months, and $1,469,000 for detached houses, $1,165,000 for townhouses and $377,000 for condos.
Is the Bethesda housing market cooling? Detached prices in Bethesda have cooled over the last 12 months: the median detached house sold for $1,469,000, 8.2% lower than the year before, on 12% more sales (736). The highest yearly median of the last decade was $1,600,000 in 2024; prices are 8.2% below it now.
Townhouse prices in Bethesda have cooled over the last 12 months: the median townhouse sold for $1,165,000, 10.3% lower than the year before, on 27% fewer sales (68). The highest yearly median of the last decade was $1,304,000 in 2024; prices are 10.7% below it now.
Condo prices in Bethesda have kept rising over the last 12 months: the median condo sold for $377,000, 14.2% higher than the year before, on 4% more sales (189). The highest yearly median of the last decade was $399,900 in 2018; prices are 5.7% below it now.
Over the long run, the detached median in Bethesda went from $958,500 in 2016 to $1,575,500 in 2025, about 5.7% a year, with the biggest jump in 2022 (+11.4%) and 2 down years.
Bethesda, sales by year
| Year | Homes sold | Detached median | Townhouse median | Condo median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 993 | $1,575,500 | $1,207,500 | $347,000 |
| 2024 | 926 | $1,600,000 | $1,304,000 | $325,000 |
| 2023 | 928 | $1,500,000 | $1,284,900 | $330,000 |
| 2022 | 1,180 | $1,420,000 | $940,000 | $340,000 |
| 2021 | 1,492 | $1,275,000 | $1,050,000 | $330,000 |
| 2020 | 1,040 | $1,150,000 | $977,500 | $325,000 |
| 2019 | 1,129 | $1,050,000 | $935,000 | $336,000 |
| 2018 | 1,180 | $1,053,000 | $909,400 | $399,900 |
| 2017 | 1,180 | $1,005,000 | $1,000,000 | $395,000 |
| 2016 | 1,081 | $958,500 | $831,000 | $375,000 |
What sets a detached house’s price
Each bar is how much more or less a detached house in Montgomery County sold for than an otherwise similar one when one characteristic changes, against the first row of its group.
The largest single difference is in quality grade: grade 9 houses sold for about 110.8% more than grade 3 or lower houses of the same size, lot and age.
Based on 12,849 detached sales in Montgomery County over the last three years, these characteristics explain 89% of the variation in price. They describe past sales, not what any one house is worth.
Each bar is how much more or less a detached house in Bethesda sold for than an otherwise similar one when one characteristic changes, against the first row of its group.
Does a basement add value in Bethesda? Yes: in past sales, about 8.2% more than an otherwise similar house without one.
How much more does a bigger house sell for in Bethesda? About 20.1% more for 50% more living area, other things alike: price rises with size, but less than in proportion.
The largest single difference is in quality grade: grade 9 houses sold for about 65.6% more than grade 4 houses of the same size, lot and age.
Based on 2,001 detached sales in Bethesda over the last three years, these characteristics explain 80% of the variation in price. They describe past sales, not what any one house is worth.
Each bar is how much more or less a detached house in Potomac sold for than an otherwise similar one when one characteristic changes, against the first row of its group.
Does a basement add value in Potomac? Past sales show no clear difference between otherwise similar houses with and without one.
How much more does a bigger house sell for in Potomac? About 20.6% more for 50% more living area, other things alike: price rises with size, but less than in proportion.
The largest single difference is in quality grade: grade 9 houses sold for about 71.6% more than grade 4 houses of the same size, lot and age.
Based on 1,087 detached sales in Potomac over the last three years, these characteristics explain 81% of the variation in price. They describe past sales, not what any one house is worth.
Price differences between otherwise similar detached houses in Montgomery County
| Characteristic | Value | Price difference | Compared with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Living area, 50% larger | +19.1% | |
| Size | Lot, twice the size | +3.7% | |
| Year built | 1960–1979 | +1.3% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 1980–1999 | +3.0% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 2000–2019 | +6.3% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 2020–2026 | +9.3% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Quality grade | Grade 4 | +12.4% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Quality grade | Grade 5 | +25.2% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Quality grade | Grade 6 | +40.2% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Quality grade | Grade 7 | +58.6% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Quality grade | Grade 8 | +71.5% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Quality grade | Grade 9 | +110.8% | vs. Grade 3 or lower |
| Stories | 1.5 stories | −0.4% | vs. 1 story |
| Stories | 2 stories | −1.6% | vs. 1 story |
| Stories | 2.5 or more stories | −1.2% | vs. 1 story |
| Basement | Basement | +8.9% | vs. No basement |
| Corner lot | Corner lot | 0% | vs. Interior lot |
Price differences between otherwise similar detached houses in Bethesda
| Characteristic | Value | Price difference | Compared with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Living area, 50% larger | +20.1% | |
| Size | Lot, twice the size | +8.3% | |
| Year built | 1960–1979 | −3.6% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 1980–1999 | −7.5% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 2000–2019 | +9.7% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 2020–2026 | +6.4% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Quality grade | Grade 5 | +0.3% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 6 | +11.8% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 7 | +27.0% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 8 | +35.6% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 9 | +65.6% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Stories | 1.5 stories | +0.2% | vs. 1 story |
| Stories | 2 stories | −1.2% | vs. 1 story |
| Stories | 2.5 or more stories | +0.5% | vs. 1 story |
| Basement | Basement | +8.2% | vs. No basement |
| Corner lot | Corner lot | −1.5% | vs. Interior lot |
Price differences between otherwise similar detached houses in Potomac
| Characteristic | Value | Price difference | Compared with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Living area, 50% larger | +20.6% | |
| Size | Lot, twice the size | +2.2% | |
| Year built | 1960–1979 | −5.4% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 1980–1999 | −3.3% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Year built | 2000–2019 | +0.1% | vs. Before 1960 |
| Quality grade | Grade 5 | +10.2% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 6 | +23.4% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 7 | +33.2% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 8 | +42.2% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Quality grade | Grade 9 | +71.6% | vs. Grade 4 |
| Stories | 1.5 stories | −1.6% | vs. 1 story |
| Stories | 2 stories | −3.7% | vs. 1 story |
| Basement | Basement | +0.6% | vs. No basement |
| Corner lot | Corner lot | −0.9% | vs. Interior lot |
Detached prices by feature
The chart plots median detached-house prices in Montgomery County by living area; the tabs switch to lot, age, quality and more.
What do bigger houses sell for in Montgomery County? The median detached house in the smallest size band (under 1,200 sq ft) sold for $540,000, against $2,436,700 for 5,000+ sq ft.
By lot, the median ran from $770,800 on lots under 6,000 sq ft to $1,230,000 on 2+ acres.
By age, houses built 2020–2026 sold for the most, a median of $1,918,500, and those built before 1960 for the least, $693,800.
By the county’s quality grade, from $495,000 for grade 3 or lower to $3,181,400 for grade 9.
These are plain medians: a bigger house also tends to sit on a bigger lot and be newer. The comparison above holds those differences fixed.
The chart plots median detached-house prices in Bethesda by living area; the tabs switch to lot, age, quality and more.
What do bigger houses sell for in Bethesda? The median detached house in the smallest size band (under 1,200 sq ft) sold for $917,500, against $3,200,000 for 5,000+ sq ft.
By lot, the median ran from $1,419,500 on lots under 6,000 sq ft to $2,950,000 on 2+ acres.
By age, houses built 2020–2026 sold for the most, a median of $2,222,500, and those built before 1960 for the least, $1,270,000.
By the county’s quality grade, from $1,100,000 for grade 4 to $3,047,500 for grade 9.
These are plain medians: a bigger house also tends to sit on a bigger lot and be newer. The comparison above holds those differences fixed.
The chart plots median detached-house prices in Potomac by living area; the tabs switch to lot, age, quality and more.
What do bigger houses sell for in Potomac? The median detached house in the smallest size band (1,200–1,600 sq ft) sold for $900,600, against $2,575,000 for 5,000+ sq ft.
By lot, the median ran from $1,700,000 on lots 6,000–8,000 sq ft to $2,037,500 on 2+ acres.
By age, houses built 2020–2026 sold for the most, a median of $3,125,000, and those built 1960–1979 for the least, $1,200,000.
By the county’s quality grade, from $1,025,000 for grade 4 to $3,337,500 for grade 9.
These are plain medians: a bigger house also tends to sit on a bigger lot and be newer. The comparison above holds those differences fixed.
The chart plots median detached-house prices in Chevy Chase by living area; the tabs switch to lot, age, quality and more.
What do bigger houses sell for in Chevy Chase? The median detached house in the smallest size band (under 1,200 sq ft) sold for $900,000, against $3,225,000 for 5,000+ sq ft.
By lot, the median ran from $1,350,000 on lots under 6,000 sq ft to $2,290,000 on 20,000 sq ft–1 acre.
By age, houses built 2020–2026 sold for the most, a median of $2,720,000, and those built 1960–1979 for the least, $1,450,000.
By the county’s quality grade, from $955,000 for grade 4 to $3,782,500 for grade 9.
These are plain medians: a bigger house also tends to sit on a bigger lot and be newer. The comparison above holds those differences fixed.
The chart plots median detached-house prices in Kensington by living area; the tabs switch to lot, age, quality and more.
What do bigger houses sell for in Kensington? The median detached house in the smallest size band (under 1,200 sq ft) sold for $650,000, against $2,267,500 for 4,000–5,000 sq ft.
By lot, the median ran from $665,000 on lots under 6,000 sq ft to $1,421,000 on 20,000 sq ft–1 acre.
By age, houses built 2020–2026 sold for the most, a median of $1,855,000, and those built before 1960 for the least, $800,000.
By the county’s quality grade, from $690,000 for grade 4 to $1,788,000 for grade 7.
These are plain medians: a bigger house also tends to sit on a bigger lot and be newer. The comparison above holds those differences fixed.
Where the lot carries the price
How much is land worth in Bethesda? The state assesses land under the typical detached house, on a 9,180 sq ft lot, at about $666,000, or $72.60 per square foot.
That rate is the 2nd highest of 18 cities in Montgomery County, against $30.30 in Potomac and $93.50 in Chevy Chase.
Maryland reassesses each property every three years, so these values move slowly and lag sale prices.
Assessed land value per square foot of lot, detached houses
| City | Land value per sq ft | Typical lot | Detached houses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevy Chase | $93.50 | 8,510 sq ft | 6,698 |
| Bethesda | $72.60 | 9,180 sq ft | 20,886 |
| Kensington | $39.20 | 7,850 sq ft | 6,003 |
| Potomac | $30.30 | 15,330 sq ft | 14,251 |
When detached houses were built
The columns count every detached house in Montgomery County on the state’s tax roll, 172,731 of them, by the twenty-year span it was built in.
How old are the houses in Montgomery County? The typical detached house was built in 1968. The biggest share, 29%, went up in 1940–1959; 2% date from 2020 or later.
The typical one has 2,168 square feet of living area on a 10,320 sq ft lot.
By median year built, that compares with 1959 in Bethesda, 1974 in Potomac and 1948 in Chevy Chase.
The columns count every detached house in Bethesda on the state’s tax roll, 20,707 of them, by the twenty-year span it was built in.
How old are the houses in Bethesda? The typical detached house was built in 1959. The biggest share, 44%, went up in 1940–1959; 4% date from 2020 or later.
The typical one has 2,446 square feet of living area on a 9,180 sq ft lot.
By median year built, that compares with 1974 in Potomac and 1948 in Chevy Chase.
The columns count every detached house in Potomac on the state’s tax roll, 14,202 of them, by the twenty-year span it was built in.
How old are the houses in Potomac? The typical detached house was built in 1974. The biggest share, 58%, went up in 1960–1979; 1% date from 2020 or later.
The typical one has 3,023 square feet of living area on a 15,330 sq ft lot.
By median year built, that compares with 1959 in Bethesda and 1948 in Chevy Chase.
The columns count every detached house in Chevy Chase on the state’s tax roll, 6,213 of them, by the twenty-year span it was built in.
How old are the houses in Chevy Chase? The typical detached house was built in 1948. The biggest share, 45%, went up in 1940–1959; 2% date from 2020 or later.
The typical one has 2,460 square feet of living area on a 8,510 sq ft lot.
By median year built, that compares with 1959 in Bethesda and 1974 in Potomac.
The columns count every detached house in Kensington on the state’s tax roll, 5,861 of them, by the twenty-year span it was built in.
How old are the houses in Kensington? The typical detached house was built in 1954. The biggest share, 71%, went up in 1940–1959; 2% date from 2020 or later.
The typical one has 1,673 square feet of living area on a 7,850 sq ft lot.
By median year built, that compares with 1959 in Bethesda, 1974 in Potomac and 1948 in Chevy Chase.
Montgomery County, detached houses by year built
| Year built | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–1939 | 10,025 | 6% |
| 1940–1959 | 50,414 | 29% |
| 1960–1979 | 48,182 | 28% |
| 1980–1999 | 42,230 | 24% |
| 2000–2019 | 19,147 | 11% |
| 2020 or later | 2,733 | 2% |
Bethesda, detached houses by year built
| Year built | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–1939 | 1,959 | 9% |
| 1940–1959 | 9,043 | 44% |
| 1960–1979 | 4,323 | 21% |
| 1980–1999 | 1,822 | 9% |
| 2000–2019 | 2,638 | 13% |
| 2020 or later | 922 | 4% |
Potomac, detached houses by year built
| Year built | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–1939 | 37 | 0% |
| 1940–1959 | 338 | 2% |
| 1960–1979 | 8,282 | 58% |
| 1980–1999 | 4,413 | 31% |
| 2000–2019 | 1,017 | 7% |
| 2020 or later | 115 | 1% |
Chevy Chase, detached houses by year built
| Year built | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–1939 | 2,050 | 33% |
| 1940–1959 | 2,809 | 45% |
| 1960–1979 | 377 | 6% |
| 1980–1999 | 362 | 6% |
| 2000–2019 | 495 | 8% |
| 2020 or later | 120 | 2% |
Kensington, detached houses by year built
| Year built | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–1939 | 295 | 5% |
| 1940–1959 | 4,176 | 71% |
| 1960–1979 | 697 | 12% |
| 1980–1999 | 230 | 4% |
| 2000–2019 | 331 | 6% |
| 2020 or later | 132 | 2% |
How long owners stay
The columns count the detached houses in Montgomery County by how long their current owners have held them: the years since each house’s last recorded transfer.
How long do people stay in their homes in Montgomery County? The typical owner of a detached house in Montgomery County has held it for about 10 years. 27% changed hands in the last five years, and 16% have stayed with the same owner for 25 years or more.
That typical stay compares with 9 years in Bethesda, 9 years in Potomac, 10 years in Chevy Chase.
Any recorded transfer counts as a new start, including an inheritance or a move into a family trust, so short stays read slightly high. 7,629 houses have no transfer on the state’s file and are left out.
The columns count the detached houses in Bethesda by how long their current owners have held them: the years since each house’s last recorded transfer.
How long do people stay in their homes in Bethesda? The typical owner of a detached house in Bethesda has held it for about 9 years. 30% changed hands in the last five years, and 14% have stayed with the same owner for 25 years or more.
That typical stay compares with 9 years in Potomac, 10 years in Chevy Chase.
Any recorded transfer counts as a new start, including an inheritance or a move into a family trust, so short stays read slightly high. 903 houses have no transfer on the state’s file and are left out.
The columns count the detached houses in Potomac by how long their current owners have held them: the years since each house’s last recorded transfer.
How long do people stay in their homes in Potomac? The typical owner of a detached house in Potomac has held it for about 9 years. 29% changed hands in the last five years, and 16% have stayed with the same owner for 25 years or more.
That typical stay compares with 9 years in Bethesda, 10 years in Chevy Chase.
Any recorded transfer counts as a new start, including an inheritance or a move into a family trust, so short stays read slightly high. 703 houses have no transfer on the state’s file and are left out.
The columns count the detached houses in Chevy Chase by how long their current owners have held them: the years since each house’s last recorded transfer.
How long do people stay in their homes in Chevy Chase? The typical owner of a detached house in Chevy Chase has held it for about 10 years. 29% changed hands in the last five years, and 15% have stayed with the same owner for 25 years or more.
That typical stay compares with 9 years in Bethesda, 9 years in Potomac.
Any recorded transfer counts as a new start, including an inheritance or a move into a family trust, so short stays read slightly high. 335 houses have no transfer on the state’s file and are left out.
The columns count the detached houses in Kensington by how long their current owners have held them: the years since each house’s last recorded transfer.
How long do people stay in their homes in Kensington? The typical owner of a detached house in Kensington has held it for about 10 years. 29% changed hands in the last five years, and 16% have stayed with the same owner for 25 years or more.
That typical stay compares with 9 years in Bethesda, 9 years in Potomac, 10 years in Chevy Chase.
Any recorded transfer counts as a new start, including an inheritance or a move into a family trust, so short stays read slightly high. 280 houses have no transfer on the state’s file and are left out.
Montgomery County, detached houses by years owned
| Years owned | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | 27,617 | 16% |
| 20–24 | 18,406 | 11% |
| 15–19 | 16,039 | 10% |
| 10–14 | 23,958 | 14% |
| 5–9 | 37,016 | 22% |
| Under 5 | 44,642 | 27% |
Bethesda, detached houses by years owned
| Years owned | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | 2,812 | 14% |
| 20–24 | 1,848 | 9% |
| 15–19 | 1,951 | 10% |
| 10–14 | 2,909 | 15% |
| 5–9 | 4,403 | 22% |
| Under 5 | 6,060 | 30% |
Potomac, detached houses by years owned
| Years owned | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | 2,103 | 16% |
| 20–24 | 1,144 | 8% |
| 15–19 | 1,277 | 9% |
| 10–14 | 1,975 | 15% |
| 5–9 | 3,102 | 23% |
| Under 5 | 3,947 | 29% |
Chevy Chase, detached houses by years owned
| Years owned | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | 940 | 15% |
| 20–24 | 538 | 8% |
| 15–19 | 679 | 11% |
| 10–14 | 956 | 15% |
| 5–9 | 1,405 | 22% |
| Under 5 | 1,845 | 29% |
Kensington, detached houses by years owned
| Years owned | Houses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | 906 | 16% |
| 20–24 | 551 | 10% |
| 15–19 | 540 | 9% |
| 10–14 | 794 | 14% |
| 5–9 | 1,280 | 22% |
| Under 5 | 1,652 | 29% |
Planning work on a Bethesda house?
These figures describe the houses that sold. For a house you own, the free property analysis estimates what an addition or renovation could add on your lot, and our Bethesda page covers local permits, housing stock and the conditions we plan around.
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