Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 52 min5:43 am – 8:35 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 28 min7:22 am – 4:50 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People31,844 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 38.411,324 householdsMedian household income $137,946Median home value $453,700Median rent $2,024 a month84% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $4,532 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting4.8% unemployment rate75% of adults are in the labour force, 17,588 employedMain industries: public administration 25%, education and health care 22%, professional and business services 11%Average commute 41 minutes69% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 2% take public transport, 1% walk or cycle, 19% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages40% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher96% finished high school, 19% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 87%, Spanish 4%, other Indo-European languages 2%, Tagalog 2%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 88°F, lows 69°FColdest month January: highs 44°F, lows 27°F47 in of rain a year, on about 81 dayswettest month July13 in of snow a year, on about 7 days38 days above 90°F, 80 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Oxon Hill station, 12 mi away; snow from Franconia 1.3 Sse
Nearby landmarksHampshire Lakelake · 1.0 miDorchester Lakelake · 2.0 miWaldorf Center for Higher Educationcollege · 3.5 miBryan Pointcape · 6.7 miCollege of Southern Maryland La Plata Campuscollege · 5.1 miFerry Pointcape · 8.4 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsMattawoman Watershedpark · 2.0 miBensville Parkpark · 3.0 mi · 96 acresZekiah Swamp Neastate park · 5.8 miChapman Spstate park · 6.9 mi · 61 acresMyrtle Grove Wmastate conservation land · 5.0 mi · 688 acresChapman Residualstate recreation area · 6.1 mi · 1,360 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes1 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.6 on 16 Jul 201050 mi away, near Barnesville, MarylandMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 16 Jul 201050 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowCharles County, MD, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsHeat wave Relatively ModerateStrong wind Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality92% of days had good air in 2025218 of 236 days measured18 moderate daysMedian index 38, worst day 97main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Charles County monitors, MD
Internet at home94% of households have a broadband subscription83% have cable, fibre or DSL9% rely on a mobile data plan alone3% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCharles County Gardens Waterserves 551 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 20211 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation214 ft65 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalUniversity of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center6.9 miPost officeSaint Charles Center Post Office2.8 miTown hallLa Plata Town Hall7.1 miPoliceMaryland State Police - Barrack H La Plata4.3 miFire stationWaldorf Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi9 schools4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 otherElementaryWilliam A Diggs Elementary Schoolunder a mileHighWestlake High Schoolunder a mileHighNorth Point High Schoolunder a mileCollegeWaldorf Center for Higher Education3.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRonald Reagan Washington National Airport DCA16 miInterstateI-9512 miUS highwayUS 3015.8 miAmtrakNew Carrollton, MD NCR23 miSubwayHuntington - Kings Highway North of Fort Dr.Washington Metro13 miCoachAlexandria, VA (King St- Old Town Station. Bus will stop on Cameron Street north of Commonwealth, by the metro station entrance, across the street froOurBus13 miTransit9 stops within a milePGM VanGOSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 20603 ZIP area.
