Maryland has 23 counties, of which 16 are bordered by the Chesapeake Bay estuary and its tributaries; it has more than 4,000 miles of coastline; it has some of the highest densities of historic landmarks per capita; Its largest city is Baltimore, and its capital is Annapolis. Maryland is also affectionately known as the Old Line State, the Free State, and the Chesapeake Bay State. It is named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles
Keep reading to find out the 10 best places to live in Maryland to find out the answer to that last little detail.
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The Best Places To Live In Maryland
North Potomac
This is one of the best places to live in Maryland. North Potomac, located 3 miles from Gaithersburg and from Washington, D.C. 20 miles away, benefit from a long list of advantages, including great schools (Winston Churchill High School, Thomas S Wootton High School, Quince Orchard High School, Northwestern High School, and The High School. Wayside elementary schools all enjoy the rare distinction of an A+ rating on the Niche); a booming job market; a staggering average income of $161,553; low crime; and type
North Bethesda
The huge Washington suburb of North Bethesda has the kind of fantastic infrastructure, vast choice of recreational and leisure amenities, and good job market you’d expect of a location that supports 50,056 extremely happy citizens. Additionally, it boasts a minuscule 6.9% poverty rate, a 4.5% unemployment rate, and a massive $103,194 median income on average.
As you might think, those kinds of advantages are not cheap; the typical single-family home sells for just over $550,000, while the typical rental property costs a staggering $1,868 per month (almost twice the national average).
Bethesda
If there was a checklist for everything you could desire from your best places to live in Maryland, Bethesda would cross every item off: upscale retail complexes, live cultural events, multiple art galleries, top-notch medical facilities, top-notch schools, a dynamic, welcoming community.
You’re looking at one very appealing town when you add in a flourishing job market, an extremely low crime rate, a median family income of $154,559, and the kind of highly coveted status that enables inhabitants to charge a stunning $877,300 for the courtesy of allowing newcomers to move in.
Garrett Park
This is another of best places to live in Maryland. Aspire to make $173,889? If the answer was an unequivocal “yes,” you might want to think about relocating to the teeny-tiny suburb of Garrett Park. It may be one of the tiniest additions to our list, but despite having just 1,020 residents, it excels in areas like infrastructure, employment, crime, and unemployment rates as well as in areas like education and facilities.
It also has a strong sense of community, which you would expect from such a small place. But, whether having friendly neighbors is worth the absurdly high median property value of $810,000 is probably a topic for another day.
Poolesville
With a spectacular unemployment rate of just 4.9%, a poverty rate that is hardly noticeable at 1.6%, and a thriving job market that keeps inhabitants earning $154,107 per year, Poolesville is the wealthiest community in Maryland. Due to its great demand, the property is expensive; you may anticipate paying roughly $397,800 for a single-family home, or $1851 per month in rent.
Potomac
What are the best places to live in Maryland? Although house prices in Potomac are skyrocketing (don’t anticipate much of a shift from $893,600), the quality of life there is still quite excellent.
You can anticipate some of the best facilities and services the state has to offer if you decide to make this Washington, D.C. suburb your next home, including excellent schools, first-rate shopping, a wide variety of drinking and dining establishments, a low crime rate, a population where 51% of residents have a master’s degree, and a median income that, at $187,568, is more than $130,000 above the national average.
Ellicott City
You might be shocked to learn that Ellicott City, a suburb with a population of 71,737, has the kind of tight-knit community you’d anticipate from a much smaller town. Despite its metropolitan feel, this place has a strong sense of community that is a wonderful diversion from the quite different vibe of Washington, DC.
Expect to pay around $522,700 on average for a home, which is higher than you might expect for such a sought-after location, but many people are willing to pay this price for the abundance of top-notch amenities, employment opportunities, medical facilities, educational institutions, and recreational facilities on offer.
South Kensington
You might want to put your extra $718,000 to good use by purchasing a home in the exclusive South Kensington neighborhood of Washington if you have it lying around.
You’ll not only be able to mingle with some of the wealthiest people in Maryland, but you’ll also have access to a top-notch educational system, a job market that can support a median household income of $160,303, virtually no crime, and some highly educated neighbors (34% of the district’s 8684 residents have a bachelor’s degree, and 44% have a master’s degree or higher).
Columbia
There aren’t many better areas in Maryland than Columbia if you’re looking for one of the best places to live in Maryland. There’s a very good reason it was chosen by Niche as the fifth best place in the entire US to raise a family. It is safe, has excellent schools, and offers a wide selection of amenities and services.
If you need more convincing, read some of its reviews: “The city is stunning. There’s a wide selection of dining establishments, family-friendly activities, and parks/walks. Con you will receive an exceptional education as it is located within the Howard County Public Schools System, the premier public school system in the entire state.
This city has the feel of a big metropolis without being busy or dirty as it has a more cozy atmosphere with more vegetation around it. All in all, Columbia is the best city to think about moving to!
Mount Airy
This is another of the best places to live in Maryland. The charming Mount Airy offers its residents one of the best lifestyles in Maryland: the community is warm and welcoming to newcomers, the local job market is robust enough to support an average median income of a whopping $112,955, one of the highest in the state, and its schools are among the best in the state.
As would be expected, real estate costs are higher than normal, with the typical single-family home retailing for about $361,500.