2 census tracts · pop 4,669 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.9/10
· range 5.8–6
Downtown Bethesda spans 2 census tracts of Bethesda, MD and houses 4,669 people. Scored across those inputs it reaches 5.9/10, placing it in the Moderate tier. 45% of renters here are cost-burdened at the 30% threshold, markedly above the Bethesda rate of 28.7%.
72% of occupied units are rented, so comparables are plentiful and vacancy risk is low, but a mispriced renewal loses the tenant to a building two streets over. Pulling the other way is economic stress, at 1.8/10. 16% are severely burdened, paying half their income or more in rent. That cohort has no absorption capacity for an unexpected bill, and it is where non-payment filings originate.
On the high side is tenant-organizing strength at 7.4/10. SNAP participation is 4.0% of households versus 15.2% nationally. The voucher gap is 13.7%: households holding assistance that local rents will not absorb, which shows up as churn rather than arrears.
5.0% of adults carry no health insurance against 11.3% nationally, a common route into sudden unpayable debt. At $2,632 a month, rents sit 7% over what the rest of Bethesda commands. Among the 17 mapped neighborhoods of Bethesda, it ranks #5 by risk, the upper third.
The closest comparables inside the same city are Kenwood and South Bethesda. Its 2 tracts score within 0.2 points of one another, so the area figure travels well to individual addresses. Annual rent works out to 24% of average household income of $133,295.
The area figure travels well to individual addresses here, though the per-tract table below still carries the detail. Scores move when the ACS release, the court-record feed, or the statute ledger behind them moves.
Risk score
5.9
Moderate
2 tracts · population-weighted
Downtown Bethesda vs BethesdaHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority50%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport68%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in Downtown Bethesda
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
6.3%Housing insecurity
3.8%Utility shutoff threat
6.5%Food insecurity
4.1%SNAP enrollment
5.0%No health insurance
18.3%Any disability
Frequently asked
About Downtown Bethesda
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Downtown Bethesda?
Downtown Bethesda scores 5.9/10 (Moderate tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does Downtown Bethesda compare to Bethesda overall?
Downtown Bethesda scores 0.4 points lower than Bethesda overall (6.3/10). Renters spend 45% of income on rent vs 29% citywide. Average rent: $2,632 vs $2,469.
Q3
What is the average rent in Downtown Bethesda?
Average gross rent in Downtown Bethesda eviction risk is $2,632/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Downtown Bethesda residents are renters?
72% of Downtown Bethesda households are renter-occupied (vs 36% in Bethesda). The neighborhood has 4,669 residents.
Q5
Is Downtown Bethesda a high social-vulnerability area?
Downtown Bethesda sits in the 30th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in Downtown Bethesda have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in Downtown Bethesda is census tract 24031704805 (score 6/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 5.8 to 6, a spread of 0.2 points.
Q7
How safe is Downtown Bethesda for landlords?
Downtown Bethesda eviction risk carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.9/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Bethesda as a whole (6.3/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of Downtown Bethesda?
Downtown Bethesda has 4,831 residents. Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (65.9%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (16.2%), Black (non-Hispanic) (6.7%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
