2019 Best Places to Raise a Family in MarylandAbout this List

North Potomac

• Suburb in Maryland
• 73 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in North Potomac! I have lived here my entire life. The neighborhood is really nice and the people are friendly. The schools in the area are well-known. Shops, restaurants, gas, and night-life activities are nearby. It is a 45 minute drive to DC and an hour away to Virginia.
Read 73 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 24,236 Population

Potomac

• Suburb in Maryland
• 65 reviews

Current Resident: Potomac is known to the girl next door sandwiched between Rockville and Bethesda. The reality, is that the quiet neighborhoods are often filled with families who work on an NIH campus or for the government in general. The neighborhoods are sprinkled with greenery and parks are scattered throughout the area. The religious diversity here is absolutely incredible as well. There are 3 Jewish community centers, a Baptist Church, and a Lutheran Church all on the same street (Seven Locks Road). Overall, the atmosphere for raising a family in safety is incredible. Some incredible schools are also in the area. Check out Herbert Hoover Middle School, Cabin John Middle School, Winston Churchill High school, Walter Johnson High School, and Julius West Middle Schools.
Read 65 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 45,780 Population

Garrett Park

• Suburb in Maryland
• 11 reviews

Current Resident: Such a cute town. All of the houses are beautiful, the community is incredibly friendly, and you never have to worry about your street being plowed.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 1,020 Population

South Kensington

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 8,684 Population

Bethesda

• Town in Maryland
• 101 reviews

Current Resident: I had a great experience growing up in Bethesda. Public schools are great, excellent neighborhoods for kids to feel safe in. proximity to DC provides a lot of opportunities both recreationally and educationally. Diversity is less than I would like, but still an ideal place to raise children. Public schools are top ones in the country and provide superb experiences in academics and extracurriculars. The downtown has good restaurant options and an excellent movie theater. Also has a great public library and fun farmers market on Sundays! Overall, a great place to grow up.
Read 101 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 63,168 Population

Urbana

• Town in Maryland
• 36 reviews

Nearby Resident: Urbana is a growing town in Maryland. What once was farmland is now a hustling town filling with townhomes, single family homes, and apartments. It’s very popular due to the location in Southern Frederick County. It’s a great place for those with government jobs since it’s a little over an hour to our Nation’s Capital. If that commute is too long for you then what might get you to stay is the public school systems. They are one of the best in the state. This charming town still is perfect for an active couple and has the option to be close to the city and close to the middle of nowhere. With the Application Mountain’s to the west and D.C. to the east, it’s very easy to find something to do and experience the four distinct seasons of nature!
Read 36 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 11,022 Population

North Bethesda

• Suburb in Maryland
• 38 reviews

Current Resident: I have b÷n living here for a year and I absolutely love living here! The neighbors are so friendly, and the communitiss well kept! There are plenty of shopping centers offering variety of stores, from retail to grocery to huge department stores such as Target and TJ Maxx. There are plenty of dollar stores in the area. It is safe and provides me comfort to know that I may walk to the store at night without any disruptions. It is an expensive area as far as housing, but I lucked up and found a place for a reasonable price. Great area!
Read 38 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 50,056 Population

Travilah

• Suburb in Maryland
• 11 reviews

Nearby Resident: Travilah is the classic American suburban neighborhood. The town is surrounded by some of the best learning centers in America, from John Hopkins University, which is down the street, from a combination of 13 top universities in Maryland molded together to become, The universities of Shady Grove.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 12,204 Population

Kensington

• Suburb in Maryland
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet residential area with great hiking trails nearby, fitness center, and a local library for children and adults. Bus accessible and short driving distance to Grosvenor metro and Strathmore concert hall.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 2,171 Population

Brookmont

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,585 Population

Ellicott City

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 209 reviews

Nearby Resident: What can I say, there's no place like home... There are many diverse restaurants to choose from and the atmosphere is very family-friendly. The Columbia Mall is only a 15 min drive away, and there is also a movie theatre! On top of that, the schools here are excellent, so ensuring your kids a good education is not an issue here! The only downside is that because of the higher quality schools, it can get very expensive to live here.

If you are visiting, I would highly recommend going to Old Ellicott City; it is rich with history and has lots of cool places worth checking out!
Read 209 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 71,737 Population

Chevy Chase

• Suburb in Maryland
• 23 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Chevy Chase! Wouldn't move anywhere else. It's safe, fun, family friendly, and I feel totally OK walking around at night on my nightly walks. The community is tight knit, and there are neighborhood parties and events to attend if that's your kind of thing. I lived in DC for years and bought a property in Martin's Additions and have not looked back!
Read 23 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 9,844 Population

Somerset

• Suburb in Maryland
• 1 review

Current Resident: Somerset is an excellent place to live and raise a family. Real estate is expensive, however the local schools are excellent and the neighborhood had a more friendly and laid back feel than some of the surrounding sections of Bethesda-Chevy Chase. The Halloween party is the best the DMV.
Read 1 Review

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 1,113 Population

Rockville

• Town in Maryland
• 209 reviews

Current Resident: As someone who has lived in Rockville for the majority of their life, I am proud to say this city is everything I could ask for. Montgomery County is the area that Rockville is a part of and the schools, sports teams, and academics are some of the best in the nation. The neighborhood that I live in has a great diversity of people, convenient location nearby schools and public activities, and overall quality place to start your life. I've had an unforgettable time thus far in Rockville and hope to be able to give back to my community as much as I can. If you're looking to live somewhere with beneficial features, for the present and the future, Rockville is highly recommended!
Read 209 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 66,420 Population

Fulton

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 7 reviews

Current Resident: This is a wonderful community to raise a family in. The local parks, schools and restaurants are all fantastic. The neighbors are mostly friendly and this is a very safe community. Maple Lawn in particular is an ideal location for raising children and I highly recommend it!
Read 7 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,783 Population

Chevy Chase Town

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 2,960 Population

Chevy Chase Village

• Suburb in Maryland
• 4 reviews

Niche User: It is a very safe area with a very small amount of crime. We have our own police force that is very responsive and effective at catching criminals. Sometimes they can be a pest though when they hide behind corners waiting for folks to roll through a stop sign, that always becomes annoying.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 1,984 Population

Ilchester

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 42 reviews

Niche User: I am partial to this area because it is my hometown, but I can objectively say that it is a great place to raise a family. I generally feel safe, and the public school system is decent by national standards. It also allows easy access to cities including DC and Annapolis as well as more rural areas and mountains.
Read 42 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 26,804 Population

Clarksburg

• Suburb in Maryland
• 46 reviews

Current Resident: The ethnic diversity is a draw to Clarksburg, MD. Individual families participate in hosting activities that help their children grow and acknowledge other cultures, religions and ethnicities. The community has events for all ages and throughout the year. A few changes I would like to see implemented are having a larger high school and a more efficient traffic pattern in and out of school during drop off and pick up. I would also like to see more involvement from the Board of Education and Montgomery County Council to understand the residents concerns. I would like to see additional joint activities with the schools and community.
Read 46 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 22,100 Population

Columbia

• City in Maryland
• 340 reviews

Current Resident: The resources are plentiful and well funded - from Grassroots Crisis intervention for mental health & financial help; the library system's education resources and free programs for children/teens; Howard Banes Senior Center's free recreation and lunches; wonderful parks and walking trails; etc.
The people care about Columbia as well. City council hearings are well attended by passionate people, and you'll find Board of Ed and state legislature campaign posters all over the place. Likewise, Columbia cares about its people (see above resources. They also have given out surveys at the library seeking our feedback).
Like every American city, Columbia should do more about litter.
Read 340 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 103,170 Population

Cabin John

• Suburb in Maryland
• 4 reviews

Current Resident: CJ excels in: wonderful location next to river/ C&O Canal and close to DC/ Virginia and beltway, great public schools, good local restaurants, a post office, and quirky supermarket. The CJ Citizen Association organizes many inclusive community events every year. Many residents age in place but there are also young families. CJ enjoys the 4th longest life expectancy of any US community.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 2,115 Population

Scaggsville

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 19 reviews

Current Resident: Safe neighborhood, with the new shopping center provides lots of necessities. From fast food restaurant, grocery store, convenience stores, gas stations, doctors offices, classy restaurants, and many more!
Read 19 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 9,142 Population

Darnestown

• Suburb in Maryland
• 16 reviews

Current Resident: Great area. Quiet and friendly. Really enjoy nature and everything that the suburbs has to offer! Great food, great people and great schools.
Read 16 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 6,540 Population

Derwood

• Suburb in Maryland
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: I have live in Derwood for almost 13 years, I have noticed many of senior citizens tend to blame on younger adults, for example Ms. Jones, who is divorced with former FBI agent, blame on me for rob her, which pissed me off that my friend and I face with serious consequence. Be beware of her! but other wise, it is quiet place to live with good neighbor.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 1,984 Population

Four Corners

• Suburb in Maryland
• 12 reviews

Niche User: It's pretty safe. You do have a few crimes here and there, but nothing to be too concerned about.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 8,361 Population