The area west of Bethesda Country Club, in Maryland, is a lovely suburb. Cherry trees shed pink blossoms on manicured lawns that spread out from beautiful homes, all of which cost more than a million dollars. Doctors, lawyers, ambassadors, and lobbyists live in this part of Potomac.

About 160 miles away, a two and a half hour drive, is Garrett County, Md. The median home there costs $169,000. Less than one in five adults has a bachelor’s degree. It’s rural, and it would be accurate to call it Appalachia.