How livable is Potomac, MD?

Websites have long ranked Potomac as a top earning ZIP code, as a town with top educators and an area with top housing prices.

Another site has given 20854 and its surrounding ZIPs a more encompassing rating. Areavibes.com rates towns on seven criteria to come up with a score between 1-100. Potomac scored a 76, making it “extremely livable,” according to the site’s metrics. Bethesda was given a score of 84, making it "exceptionally livable," and Rockville scored an 81.

Curious about the site’s breakdown? Potomac received letter scores in the following subjects:

Employment: A+

Potomac’s median household income is $163,749, 121 percent higher than the rest of Maryland, according to the site. United States Census data for 2010 estimates Potomac’s median income at $162,766. Residents commute, on average, around 34 minutes to work.

Housing:  A+

Potomac’s median house value is estimated at $988,200, 184 percent higher than the rest of Maryland, according to the site. U.S. Census data for 2010 estimated Potomac’s median home value at $877,900.

Education: B

Potomac’s high school graduation rate is 96 percent according to Areavibes, 13 percent higher than the graduation rates of the rest of the state. Education Week had estimated the 2009 graduation rate at 95 percent. Winston Churchill High School, Potomac’s public high school has been top ranked numerous times and was last year named the best school in Maryland.

Crime: B

As Montgomery County continues to tout falling crime rates, Areavibes gave Potomac a B rating for crimes rates, though it is unclear where the site’s data originated.

Weather: C+

While optimal temperature and precipitation numbers are a little more subjective than employment rates and education rankings, Potomac received an average score for weather. Areavibes gave the town a lower air quality ranking of 40, where a ranking of 1 is best. Still, average summer temperatures of 70 degrees is nothing to scoff at.

Cost of Living: F

Unsurprisingly, Potomac’s lowest score was its cost of living. According to the site, the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and utilities in Potomac are much higher than the rest of the country.

What do you think of the site’s analysis? Is Potomac “livable?”