Best suburbs to live in Maryland

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April 3, 2024
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Best suburbs to live in Maryland

Cities may have the nightlife, but the convenience and affordability of the suburbs are becoming hot as the millennial generation moves into its homebuying phase. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shook up workplace norms and superheated the housing market, folks have been flocking away from major urban centers.

In Colorado, for instance, lesser-known suburbs outside of Denver such as Boulder have become magnets for young parents, ranking among the biggest destinations for out-of-state millennials who chose to move in 2023. And companies are taking note of the trend as well: Many are establishing satellite offices and new headquarters in less urban areas.

Stacker compiled a list of the best suburbs to live in Maryland using data from Niche's 2024 Best Places to Live. Niche ranks places to live based on an array of factors, including the cost of living, educational level of residents, housing costs, and quality of schools.

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#30. Silver Spring, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 545
- Population: 81,808
- Median household income: $95,213
- Median home value: $606,100 (38% own)
- Median rent: $1,826 (62% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), Montgomery Blair High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), National Cathedral School (grade A+)
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#29. Timonium, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 544
- Population: 10,793
- Median household income: $130,811
- Median home value: $470,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,540 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Eastern Technical High School (grade A+), Western School of Technology & Environmental Science (grade A), George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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#28. North Laurel, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 543
- Population: 24,414
- Median household income: $115,294
- Median home value: $431,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,871 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Atholton High School (grade A+), Fulton Elementary School (grade A), Reservoir High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Glenelg Country School (grade A+), Sandy Spring Friends School (grade A+), Barrie School (grade A+)
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#27. Chevy Chase Village, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 523
- Population: 1,885
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (97% own)
- Median rent: $3,475 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), National Cathedral School (grade A+)
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#26. University Park, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 488
- Population: 2,610
- Median household income: $191,205
- Median home value: $586,500 (97% own)
- Median rent: $2,938 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+), Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Anselm's Abbey School (grade A+), DeMatha Catholic High School (grade A), St. Jerome Institute (grade A)
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#25. Chevy Chase View, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 472
- Population: 1,123
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,181,800 (97% own)
- Median rent: $3,250 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), District of Columbia International School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), Holton-Arms School (grade A+)
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#24. Martin's Additions, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 454
- Population: 993
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,382,100 (98% own)
- Median rent: $2,625 (2% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), National Cathedral School (grade A+)
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#23. Cabin John, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 434
- Population: 2,196
- Median household income: $208,598
- Median home value: $1,117,300 (97% own)
- Median rent: $2,797 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (grade A+), BASIS Washington, D.C. Public Charter School (grade A+), Dorothy Hamm Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+)
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#22. Towson, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 423
- Population: 57,617
- Median household income: $98,425
- Median home value: $408,100 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,695 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Eastern Technical High School (grade A+), Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Western School of Technology & Environmental Science (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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#21. Darnestown, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 405
- Population: 6,672
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $902,500 (94% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Poolesville High School (grade A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (grade A+), Northwest High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Bullis School (grade A+), St. Andrew's Episcopal School (grade A+)
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#20. Kensington, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 345
- Population: 2,241
- Median household income: $143,021
- Median home value: $882,900 (58% own)
- Median rent: $2,118 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), District of Columbia International School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), Holton-Arms School (grade A+)
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#19. Poolesville, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 343
- Population: 5,686
- Median household income: $215,025
- Median home value: $606,300 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,786 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: Poolesville High School (grade A+), Poolesville Elementary School (grade A), John H. Poole Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mary of Nazareth School (grade A+), Butler Montessori (grade A), Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences (grade A minus)
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#18. Clarksburg, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 314
- Population: 28,337
- Median household income: $165,551
- Median home value: $604,000 (89% own)
- Median rent: $2,219 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Bayard Rustin Elementary School (grade A), Snowden Farm Elementary School (grade A), Wilson Wims Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+), Rochambeau The French International School (grade A+), St. Andrew's Episcopal School (grade A+)
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#17. Takoma Park, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 247
- Population: 17,542
- Median household income: $95,316
- Median home value: $685,000 (51% own)
- Median rent: $1,318 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: Montgomery Blair High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), St. Albans School (grade A+)
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#16. Olney, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 231
- Population: 35,522
- Median household income: $166,541
- Median home value: $615,700 (89% own)
- Median rent: $2,231 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Bayard Rustin Elementary School (grade A), Snowden Farm Elementary School (grade A), Sherwood High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+), Rochambeau The French International School (grade A+)
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#15. Ilchester, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 199
- Population: 27,300
- Median household income: $150,417
- Median home value: $482,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,876 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Rockburn Elementary School (grade A), Ellicott Mills Middle School (grade A), Ilchester Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Timothy's School (grade A+), Glenelg Country School (grade A+), Spencerville Adventist Academy (grade A)
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#14. Scaggsville, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 186
- Population: 10,793
- Median household income: $176,995
- Median home value: $610,000 (93% own)
- Median rent: $3,096 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: Atholton High School (grade A+), Pointers Run Elementary School (grade A), Fulton Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Glenelg Country School (grade A+), Sandy Spring Friends School (grade A+), Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (grade A+)
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#13. Travilah, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 182
- Population: 10,846
- Median household income: $248,703
- Median home value: $1,196,400 (96% own)
- Median rent: $3,194 (4% rent)
- Top public schools: Winston Churchill High School (grade A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (grade A+), Northwest High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Landon School (grade A+), Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+)
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#12. Lutherville, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 157
- Population: 6,595
- Median household income: $133,865
- Median home value: $401,500 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,394 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Eastern Technical High School (grade A+), Western School of Technology & Environmental Science (grade A), George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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#11. Columbia, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 140
- Population: 106,600
- Median household income: $124,537
- Median home value: $458,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,895 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: River Hill High School (grade A+), Centennial High School (grade A+), Atholton High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Timothy's School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+), Glenelg Country School (grade A+)
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#10. Four Corners, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 117
- Population: 7,766
- Median household income: $186,346
- Median home value: $579,700 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,511 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Montgomery Blair High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Georgetown Day School (grade A+), Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Landon School (grade A+)
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#9. Rockville, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 72
- Population: 67,142
- Median household income: $122,470
- Median home value: $623,800 (55% own)
- Median rent: $2,167 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Thomas S. Wootton High School (grade A+), Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Richard Montgomery High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), The Madeira School (grade A+)
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#8. Chevy Chase, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 65
- Population: 9,789
- Median household income: $217,500
- Median home value: $1,159,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $2,610 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+), National Cathedral School (grade A+)
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#7. Potomac, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 59
- Population: 46,499
- Median household income: $218,710
- Median home value: $1,044,900 (85% own)
- Median rent: $2,584 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (grade A+), Winston Churchill High School (grade A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+)
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#6. Bethesda, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 57
- Population: 66,316
- Median household income: $185,546
- Median home value: $1,088,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $2,312 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (grade A+), Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+)
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#5. Fulton, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 55
- Population: 5,435
- Median household income: $215,455
- Median home value: $732,300 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,603 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Atholton High School (grade A+), Pointers Run Elementary School (grade A), Fulton Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Glenelg Country School (grade A+), Sandy Spring Friends School (grade A+), Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (grade A+)
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#4. Ellicott City, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 41
- Population: 73,589
- Median household income: $149,534
- Median home value: $617,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,921 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Marriotts Ridge High School (grade A+), Centennial High School (grade A+), Mount Hebron High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Timothy's School (grade A+), McDonogh School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+)
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#3. South Kensington, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 35
- Population: 8,371
- Median household income: $199,981
- Median home value: $891,200 (87% own)
- Median rent: $2,890 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (grade A+), Washington Latin Public Charter School - Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+)
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#2. North Potomac, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 19
- Population: 24,692
- Median household income: $182,083
- Median home value: $770,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $2,593 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Winston Churchill High School (grade A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (grade A+), Northwest High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Landon School (grade A+), Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+)
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#1. North Bethesda, Maryland

- Overall Rank: 7
- Population: 49,763
- Median household income: $131,142
- Median home value: $714,500 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,180 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (grade A+), Walter Johnson High School (grade A+), Richard Montgomery High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), Sidwell Friends School (grade A+), Georgetown Day School (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 40 states.

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