An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
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.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
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1 / 30#30. Silver Spring, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,019
- 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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2 / 30#29. Somerset, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,287
- Population: 1,028
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,646,700 (93% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (7% 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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3 / 30#28. South Kensington, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 59
- 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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4 / 30#27. Takoma Park, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 455
- 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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5 / 30#26. Timonium, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,015
- 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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6 / 30#25. Towson, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 809
- 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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7 / 30#24. Travilah, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 319
- 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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8 / 30#23. University Park, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 919
- 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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9 / 30#22. Locust Point, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,315
- Population: 2,009
- Median household income: $163,323
- Median home value: $453,809 (70% own)
- Median rent: $2,161 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Honeygo Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Gilman School (grade A+), Notre Dame Preparatory School (grade A), Archbishop Spalding High School (grade A)
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10 / 30#21. Fells Point, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,306
- Population: 4,025
- Median household income: $106,810
- Median home value: $407,520 (26% own)
- Median rent: $2,106 (74% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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11 / 30#20. Roland Park, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,243
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
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12 / 30#19. Abell, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,158
- Population: 1,064
- Median household income: $85,833
- Median home value: $310,600 (43% own)
- Median rent: $1,752 (57% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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13 / 30#18. Riverside, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,138
- Population: 5,930
- Median household income: $148,640
- Median home value: $386,415 (64% own)
- Median rent: $2,158 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+)
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14 / 30#17. South Baltimore, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,089
- Population: 3,149
- Median household income: $122,518
- Median home value: $354,822 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,134 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+)
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15 / 30#16. New Market, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 2,001
- Population: 1,534
- Median household income: $190,750
- Median home value: $595,600 (94% own)
- Median rent: $1,750 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Oakdale High School (grade A), Sugarloaf Elementary School (grade A), Frederick Classical Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Chapelgate Christian Academy (grade A), Friends Meeting School (grade A)
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16 / 30#15. Bartonsville, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,897
- Population: 2,373
- Median household income: $131,789
- Median home value: $542,600 (95% own)
- Median rent: $2,050 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: Oakdale High School (grade A), Sugarloaf Elementary School (grade A), Frederick Classical Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Friends Meeting School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B+)
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17 / 30#14. Tuscany-Canterbury, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,739
- Population: 2,978
- Median household income: $100,862
- Median home value: $368,111 (36% own)
- Median rent: $1,414 (64% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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18 / 30#13. Inner Harbor, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,724
- Population: 2,483
- Median household income: $137,863
- Median home value: $482,722 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,174 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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19 / 30#12. Downtown, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,611
- Population: 6,357
- Median household income: $61,647
- Median home value: $334,800 (3% own)
- Median rent: $1,656 (97% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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20 / 30#11. Derwood, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,610
- Population: 1,850
- Median household income: $77,083
- Median home value: $558,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $2,543 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Richard Montgomery High School (grade A+), Bayard Rustin Elementary School (grade A), Snowden Farm Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holton-Arms School (grade A+), Landon School (grade A+), Georgetown Preparatory School (grade A+)
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21 / 30#10. Spring Ridge, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,583
- Population: 5,691
- Median household income: $129,853
- Median home value: $408,700 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,633 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Oakdale High School (grade A), Sugarloaf Elementary School (grade A), Frederick Classical Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Friends Meeting School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B+)
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22 / 30#9. Federal Hill, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,510
- Population: 2,037
- Median household income: $135,497
- Median home value: $378,184 (54% own)
- Median rent: $2,199 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Hanover Hills (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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23 / 30#8. Mount Vernon, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,462
- Population: 5,250
- Median household income: $56,124
- Median home value: $227,393 (12% own)
- Median rent: $1,328 (88% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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24 / 30#7. Upper Fells Point, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,382
- Population: 3,250
- Median household income: $95,778
- Median home value: $342,732 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,579 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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25 / 30#6. Canton, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,346
- Population: 12,415
- Median household income: $140,211
- Median home value: $373,339 (67% own)
- Median rent: $2,238 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Honeygo Elementary School (grade A minus), Baltimore City College (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), The Park School of Baltimore (grade A+)
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26 / 30#5. Wyman Park, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,315
- Population: 1,134
- Median household income: $113,372
- Median home value: $320,086 (51% own)
- Median rent: $1,678 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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27 / 30#4. Mid-Town Belvedere, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,304
- Population: 4,058
- Median household income: $73,999
- Median home value: $240,727 (18% own)
- Median rent: $1,398 (82% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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28 / 30#3. Butcher's Hill, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 1,281
- Population: 2,126
- Median household income: $113,375
- Median home value: $351,039 (46% own)
- Median rent: $1,619 (54% rent)
- Top public schools: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (grade A), Baltimore City College (grade A minus), Baltimore School for the Arts (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Bryn Mawr School (grade A+), Gilman School (grade A+), St. Timothy's School (grade A+)
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29 / 30#2. Monrovia, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 621
- Population: 2,980
- Median household income: $224,886
- Median home value: $654,700 (100% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (% rent)
- Top public schools: Urbana High School (grade A+), Hallie Wells Middle School (grade A), Sugarloaf Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Friends Meeting School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B+)
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30 / 30#1. Urbana, Maryland
- Overall Rank: 452
- Population: 13,373
- Median household income: $179,409
- Median home value: $574,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $2,542 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Urbana High School (grade A+), Snowden Farm Elementary School (grade A), Hallie Wells Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Catholic Prep (grade A+), Friends Meeting School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
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