Frederick, MD waterfront

2021 Top 100 Best Places to Live In America Sponsored by:

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
760
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 66
Demographics 70
Economy 65
Education 65
Health 47
Housing 65
Infrastructure 33

#4. Frederick, MD

The 75,000 residents of Frederick, MD get to take advantage of this charming city’s rich history, pedestrian-friendly streets, picturesque architecture and abundant countryside wineries, all of which make it one of the best places to live in the U.S. Home to Civil War-era buildings, museums, galleries, unique shops and cutting-edge restaurants, Frederick is vibrant and thriving. Bonus: The city offers the perfect blend of old meets new where several startups and tech companies doing cutting-edge research are housed in buildings dating back more than 200 years.

Top Colleges/Universities: Hood College, Frederick Community College & Mount St. Mary’s University

Top Industries & Employers: The U.S. Army (Frederick is home to Fort Detrick), education, health care, medical and life sciences research, biotech manufacturing

Weekend Plans: Anything involving Carroll Creek Park, a stunningly scenic creek walk that spans more than a mile through downtown and passes by tons of shops, restaurants with patios, breweries and a distillery.

Favorite Place to Feast: Dutch’s Daughter, a Frederick staple since 1984 and a go-to spot for celebrating special occasions.

Beloved Beverage: Any of the cocktails at Dragon Distillery, a badass, woman-owned business that doubles as an ax-throwing bar.

Outdoorsy Activity: The 40-mile Covered Bridge cycling route, which will take you to Frederick’s three historic covered bridges — on your bike!

Rooftop Bar: Brewer’s Alley opened in its current iteration in 1996 but draws on more than 150 years of Frederick beer history. The brewpub’s rooftop terrace is the place to be.

Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: Many Downtown Frederick businesses welcome furry, four-legged customers with open arms — they offer water bowls and treats, too.

Remote Work Perk: For those mornings when you just need a change of scenery, Frederick offers tons of work-friendly coffee shops, including the Frederick Coffee Company & Cafe and Dublin Roasters Coffee.

One More Thing … Frederick County is the largest agricultural county in Maryland, home to the highest numbers of organic farms, turkey farms and agritourism farms in the state. It’s also home to Maryland’s first cidery, meadery and farm brewery, plus it leads the state in hay acreage.

– Sarah Kuta

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