Quick facts:

  • Gibson Island’s 21056 is Maryland’s #1 most expensive zip code
  • Montgomery County is the #1 county for expensive zips – 22 out of the top 50
  • Silver Spring and Bethesda tied for city with highest number of pricy zips – 3 each
  • Maryland’s largest residential sale was registered in Bethesda’s 20814

Boasting the  3rd highest median household income in the nation, and lower than the national average unemployment rates, Maryland’s residential real estate market experienced healthy buyer interest in 2016. However, the national trend of tight inventories is affecting local buyers at a growing rate.

Anne Arundel County, home to 7 of the state’s 50 most expensive zip codes, has hit its lowest inventory levels in 5 years. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area saw its inventory drop by 22% since March 2016. Montgomery County, home to almost half of Maryland’s top 50 most expensive zip codes, saw its inventory levels drop by 21.5% over the same period. And with the newly arrived administration, the luxury market in the Washington, DC, area has heated up significantly.

When it comes to pricey real estate in Maryland, Gibson Island’s 21056 tops the charts as the #1 most expensive zip code in the state. Homes here sell for a median $1.65 million – pricey enough for Gibson Island to be one of the most expensive zip codes in the country. Nationally, this affluent community ranks as the 52nd most expensive, beating iconic California real estate hotspots such as Cupertino, Carmel by the Sea and Venice.

Located just off the western shore of Chesapeake Bay,  Gibson Island is one of the most affluent communities nationwide – and has been for quite a while. While a $1.65 million median home price is out of range for most homebuyers, Gibson Island’s extreme privacy makes it an attractive destination for well-to-do Baltimoreans and District residents looking for a second/summer home. A gated community, connected to the mainland by a guarded causeway, it permits entry only to residents and those with valid, formal reasons for visiting.

With a median sale price of $903,000, Bethesda’s 20816 is Maryland’s 2nd priciest zip code. Named the #1 top earning town in the U.S. by Time, it’s no surprise that Bethesda grabbed 3 spots among Maryland’s top 50 most expensive zip codes. Located just outside of Washington, DC, this town packs a lot of power thanks to its proximity to the capital. Home to a multitude of medical, military and federal institutions such as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda enjoys a robust and steady economy. The city’s private sector is also impressive, with Marriott International, Host Hotels & Resorts and defense giant Lockheed Martin headquartered here.

Unsurprisingly, Maryland’s 3rd most expensive zip code, 20815, also enjoys close proximity to The District, with just 9 miles to downtown DC. In Chevy Chase’s 20815, homes sell for a median $900,000.  Although mainly a residential suburb, shopping and entertainment are easily accessed by Chevy Chase residents in the neighboring Friendship Heights shopping district. Chevy Chase is also known for hosting the annual National Science Bowl and for being the hometown of media personality Gayle King.

7118 Glenbrook Road, Bethesda © estately.com

A picture of Maryland’s most expensive zip codes wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at the largest residential transaction in 2016. The priciest home to trade in Maryland last year was 7118 Glenbrook Road in Bethesda, which fetched $6.5 million back in mid-September. The 7,888-square-foot home is located in 20814, Maryland’s 9th priciest zip code, where homes sell for a median $750,000. The 8-bed contemporary home was built in 2009 by famed architect David Jameson and features a central glass pavilion with custom-milled mahogany ceilings.

Check out the most expensive zip codes in Maryland below:

#Zip codeLocationMedian sale price 2016County
121056Gibson Island$1,650,000Anne Arundel County
220816Bethesda$903,000Montgomery County
320815Chevy Chase$900,000Montgomery County
420817Bethesda$853,343Montgomery County
520854Potomac$830,000Montgomery County
621737Glenelg$777,500Howard County
720818Cabin John$775,500Montgomery County
820896Garrett Park$755,000Montgomery County
920814Bethesda$750,000Montgomery County
1021029Clarksville$670,500Howard County
1121405Annapolis$660,000Anne Arundel County
1221738Glenwood$657,500Howard County
1321794West Friendship$655,000Howard County
1421723Cooksville$650,000Howard County
1520841Boyds$617,000Montgomery County
1620759Fulton$600,000Howard County
1720860Sandy Spring$594,500Montgomery County
1821036Dayton$593,500Howard County
1920777Highland$577,500Howard County
2020861Ashton$567,385Montgomery County
2121042Ellicott City$550,000Howard County
2220778West River$540,000Anne Arundel County
2320850Rockville$525,000Montgomery County
2421035Davidsonville$525,000Anne Arundel County
2520833Brookeville$516,225Montgomery County
2620878Gaithersburg$505,000Montgomery County
2720895Kensington$504,000Montgomery County
2821104Marriottsville$499,265Howard County
2921797Woodbine$490,000Howard County
3020882Gaithersburg$486,000Montgomery County
3121111Monkton$482,000Baltimore County
3221146Severna Park$479,900Anne Arundel County
3321163Woodstock$472,500Howard County
3421131Phoenix$469,000Baltimore County
3520905 Silver Spring$452,000Montgomery County
3620912Takoma Park$445,000Montgomery County
3720871Clarksburg$444,000Montgomery County
3821054Gambrills$443,335Anne Arundel County
3921754Ijamsville$443,000Frederick County
4020855Derwood$440,000Montgomery County
4120910 Silver Spring$425,000Montgomery County
4220754Dunkirk$423,950Calvert County
4320852Rockville$423,500Montgomery County
4421076Hanover$422,990Howard County
4520639Huntingtown$422,000Calvert County
4621710Adamstown$421,500Frederick County
4720901Silver Spring$419,000Montgomery County
4820736Owings$416,950Calvert County
4921043Ellicott City$415,799Howard County
5021140Riva$415,500Anne Arundel County

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Methodology: In order to determine which were the most expensive ZIP codes in the Maryland, we looked at all residential transactions closed in 2016, taking into account condo, co-op, single- and the two-family homes. All package deals were excluded.

Eliza Theiss

Eliza Theiss

Eliza Theiss is a senior writer reporting real estate trends in the US. Her work has been cited by CBS News, Curbed, The Los Angeles Times, and Forbes among others. With an academic background in journalism, Eliza has been covering real estate since 2012. Before joining PropertyShark, Eliza was an associate editor at Multi-Housing News and Commercial Property Executive. Eliza writes for both PropertyShark and CommercialEdge. Reach her at [email protected]

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