Best places to live in Maryland

Written by:
November 15, 2021
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Best places to live in Maryland

What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Maryland using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

#10. Travilah
- Population: 11,301
- Median home value: $1,081,200 (95% own)
- Median rent: $3,174 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $241,369
- Top public schools: Winston Churchill High School (A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (A+), Northwest High School (A+)

#9. Columbia
- Population: 103,991
- Median home value: $378,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,722 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $108,352
- Top public schools: River Hill High School (A+), Centennial High School (A+), Atholton High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Atholton Adventist Academy, Columbia Academy Elementary & Middle School, Brookfield Christian School

#8. Rockville
- Population: 67,542
- Median home value: $540,000 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,921 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $106,576
- Top public schools: Walter Johnson High School (A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (A+), Richard Montgomery High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Christ Episcopal School (A+), St. Elizabeth Catholic School, St. Raphael School

#7. Chevy Chase
- Population: 9,622
- Median home value: $944,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,957 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $181,929
- Top public schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (A+), Chevy Chase Elementary School (A), Westland Middle School (A)

#6. Bethesda
- Population: 63,195
- Median home value: $911,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $2,026 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $164,142
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (A+), Walter Johnson High School (A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (A+), Landon School (A+), Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (A+)

#5. Potomac
- Population: 45,940
- Median home value: $893,800 (88% own)
- Median rent: $1,990 (12% rent)
- Median household income: $195,884
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (A+), Winston Churchill High School (A+), Walter Johnson High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Bullis School (A+), St. Andrew's Episcopal School (A+), The Heights School (A+)

#4. Ellicott City
- Population: 72,665
- Median home value: $537,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,615 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $131,534
- Top public schools: Marriotts Ridge High School (A+), Centennial High School (A+), Mount Hebron High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Chapelgate Christian Academy (A), St. John's Parish Day School (A+), Resurrection - St. Paul School

#3. South Kensington
- Population: 8,763
- Median home value: $754,200 (89% own)
- Median rent: $2,180 (11% rent)
- Median household income: $180,000
- Top public schools: Walter Johnson High School (A+), Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (A+), Kensington Parkwood Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Holy Redeemer Catholic School (B-)

#2. North Bethesda
- Population: 49,872
- Median home value: $567,500 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,910 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $107,220
- Top public schools: Walt Whitman High School (A+), Walter Johnson High School (A+), Richard Montgomery High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Georgetown Preparatory School (A+), The Academy of the Holy Cross (A+), Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (A+)

#1. North Potomac
- Population: 23,914
- Median home value: $672,900 (84% own)
- Median rent: $2,129 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $171,066
- Top public schools: Winston Churchill High School (A+), Thomas S. Wootton High School (A+), Northwest High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Franklin Montessori Schools, Children's Manor Montessori School - Rockville, Primary Montessori Day School

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