Best Places To Live in Maryland
First-rate cities include Rockville, Bethesda, Towson, Columbia
The Old Line State has many attractive reasons why residents enjoy life there. Here are 10 top communities to consider in Maryland.
In This Article
Rockville
At the core of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor is Rockville, which houses many biotechnology and software companies along with federal government agencies. Quality of life amenities include regional shopping centers, numerous college and university campuses, and Adventist HealthCare. Rockville also features one of the largest Chinese communities in Maryland.
Bethesda
Just northwest of Washington, D.C. is Bethesda, known as one of the richest and highly educated cities in America. The community features major entities like the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and Lockheed Martin defense headquarters. Residents have access to a beautiful downtown district.
Frederick
Frederick is home to Frederick Municipal Airport and the U.S. Army’s Fort Detrick, and also contributing to the economy is Frederick Memorial Healthcare System and United Health Care. The city is known for its skyline of downtown churches, and regional shoppers have choices like Francis Scott Key Mall.
College Park
Home to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, College Park offers more than a dozen unique neighborhoods along with the University of Maryland, College Park and its 13,000 employees. Quality of life assets include College Park Airport and an eye-pleasing Calvert Hills neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Towson
With a median family income of more than $88,000, Towson is an upscale community with conveniences like Towson University, Goucher College and three hospitals. Towson Town Center is a four-story indoor mall, and numerous parks provide residents with multiple indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Silver Spring
Many technology companies are headquartered in Silver Spring, a city that recently added numerous major residential, office and retail developments. Several parks and independent restaurants add to the community’s livability, and downtown Silver Spring hosts multiple entertainment festivals. Students can attend campuses of Howard University and Montgomery College.
North Bethesda
Four miles northwest of Washington, D.C. is North Bethesda, a city with an excellent transportation system thanks to Interstates 270 and 495. North Bethesda has more than a dozen distinct neighborhoods and a popular White Flint shopping mall, and the entire community features a highly regarded Montgomery County Public Schools district.
Columbia
Ranked among the wealthiest cities in America, Columbia has 10 individual neighborhoods that are little communities in themselves — some have middle and high schools. Streets in Columbia are named for famous works of art and literature, and recreational facilities include a sports park and 25 public swimming pools.
Germantown
A bedroom community for Washington, D.C., Germantown has a convenient transportation system with three exits linking motorists to Interstate 270. Students have access to a Montgomery College campus, and quality of life luxuries include BlackRock Center for the Arts that stages hundreds of shows throughout the year.
Waldorf
A city surrounded by farms and Cedarville State Forest, Waldorf is a bedroom community for residents who work in Washington, D.C., especially at Andrews Air Force Base. St. Charles Towne Center is a two-story mall that accommodates regional shoppers, and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs minor league baseball team plays in Waldorf.