The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Potomac, MD: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	B+
Property Crime Grade	C
Other Crime Grade	A-

Which crimes are included?

$19.7 million

Cost of Crime™ for Potomac, MD

In 2025, crime will cost $1,073 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Potomac in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Potomac, MD Safe?

The B grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US city. Potomac ranks in the 62nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 62% of cities but less safe than 38%. This analysis applies only to Potomac's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Potomac is 20.37 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Potomac Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Potomac varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 27 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 83 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Potomac, MD see the most incidents - about 362 per year. In contrast, the south part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 37 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Potomac, MD

The total projected cost of crime in Potomac for 2025 is $19,700,468. This translates to approximately $370 per resident and $1,073 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.3% of the median household income in Potomac. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 50.1%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 38.5%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.4%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Potomac Compared to Other Cities?

Potomac, MD:	$370
Seat Pleasant, MD:	$1315
Cape St. Claire, MD:	$184
Maryland:	$531
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Potomac is $370 per year, which is $94 less than the national average and $162 less than Maryland's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Potomac:

In Seat Pleasant, MD, crime costs $1,315 per person, which is $946 more than in Potomac.
In Cape St. Claire, MD, crime costs $184 per person, which is $186 less than in Potomac

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Potomac for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Potomac	Cost per Potomac Resident
Murder	$9.05 million	$170
Rape/Sexual Assault	$1.17 million	$22
Robbery	$1.29 million	$24
Assault	$1.41 million	$27
Kidnapping	$57,751	$1
Vehicle Theft	$1.18 million	$22
Burglary	$636,292	$12
Theft	$3.04 million	$57
Arson	$175,483	$3
Vandalism	$714,266	$13
Animal Cruelty	$11,769	$0
Drug Crimes	$519,054	$10
Identity Theft	$441,593	$8
Total Cost of Crime	$19,700,468	$370

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Potomac, MD

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Potomac totals $66,527,882 ($1,249 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $86,228,350 ($1,618 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Potomac crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the east part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Potomac has 9, have the same problem. Of Potomac’s 53,283 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Potomac, MD at ISP Reports.

Potomac Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Potomac residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	0.9232
Robbery	0.7697
Rape	0.3610
Murder	0.0904
Total Violent Crime	2.144 (B+)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	11.02
Vehicle Theft	1.436
Burglary	1.317
Arson	0.1364
Total Property Crime	13.91 (C)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0179
Drug Crimes	1.317
Vandalism	1.876
Identity Theft	1.071
Animal Cruelty	0.0299
Total "Other" Rate	4.312 (A-)

Individual Potomac Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Potomac is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Potomac.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
North Bethesda, MD	C-	C+	D
Travilah, MD	A-	A	B+
Rockville, MD	C-	C+	D+
Cabin John, MD	B+	A-	C+
Garrett Park, MD	B	B-	C+
Glen Echo, MD	D	C+	D-
Bethesda, MD	C+	B-	C-
Kensington, MD	D-	C-	F
Chevy Chase View, MD	B	B+	C
South Kensington, MD	B-	B-	C-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Potomac is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Asheboro, NC	D+	C-	C-
Winter Park, FL	B+	B	B
Winter Garden, FL	A-	B+	B+
West Sacramento, CA	D+	D	D
West Chester, OH	B-	A	A
Webster, NY	A-	A	A
Vero Beach, FL	A	A-	A-
Union, NJ	B-	B+	B+
Tooele, UT	C-	B-	B-
Sterling, VA	B	A	A

Considering only the crime rate, Potomac is safer than the Maryland state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Potomac, MD average SchoolGrade of A, with 63% actual proficiency versus 62% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Potomac schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.