2018 Best Places to Raise a Family in MarylandAbout this List

Kensington

• Suburb in Maryland
• 9

Current Resident: Kensington is a small suburb about eight miles from the Capitol dome as a bird flies. It has lots of schools and churches etc., and most people are pretty well off (not everyone). It does not have a lot of diversity. And people can pretty much ignore what is going on in the world around them if they want to. There are parks and a pretty nice downtown you can walk to from most parts of town. (Finally got a Chipotle and Five Guys - now there are three places to hang out, including Continental PIzza - at least til 8 pm.) That 's one problem; no place to hang out unless you go down to Bethesda or out to one of the malls, and that means driving or getting a ride. I have good friends in Kensington, and I have had a good life there. I just wish it were more welcoming to more kinds of people. Maybe it is just time to move out of the little pond and into the big wide ocean!
Read 9 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 2,111 Population

Urbana

• Town in Maryland
• 29

Nearby Resident: Urbana is a beautiful but quickly growing area! When I first moved here, the town was pretty bare with minimal amenities available. As of 2018, there are several walking trails that traverse the town and numerous parks scattered throughout the neighborhood. Despite its RAPID growth in recent years, the area has maintained a small-town feel that has attributed to its family-friendly reputation.

The schools in Urbana are the best in Frederick County, by far, and Urbana High School consistently ranks among the top schools in Maryland. However, the town does have its weak points. Like many communities in the D.C. area, house prices have surged in recent years, leaving young families with fewer housing options.

Another weak spot of Urbana is the nightlife. Once the sun goes down, the town quite literally goes into hibernation. You won't find much (if any) late-night dining options, bars or clubs. If you find yourself wanting to spend a night out, DT Frederick is a short drive away!
Read 29 Reviews

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• 10,872 Population

North Potomac

• Suburb in Maryland
• 71

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 71 Reviews

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• 24,148 Population

Garrett Park

• Suburb in Maryland
• 11

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+

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• 1,058 Population

South Kensington

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 8,682 Population

Somerset

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 1,215 Population

Potomac

• Suburb in Maryland
• 53

Current Resident: Great place to live! Excellent schools, and access to all that the DC area has to offer. Plenty of shopping options, restaurants, and parks. Diverse. Beautiful weather. Great for families.
Read 53 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 45,882 Population

Bethesda

• Town in Maryland
• 76

Current Resident: Accommodating, protected, and neighborly, the suburban town of Bethesda proffers safe and convivial living for individuals and families alike.
Although the ambiance may seem mundane at times, the friendly neighbors paired with their diverse origins allow for never-ending compelling and unique discussions.
Following an educational journey in Bethesda public or private schools is an ideal choice, as the elementary, intermediate, and high school institutions provide the most outstanding schooling possible. This is true thanks to large budgets accorded by the state of Maryland, a strong faculty-to-student ratio, and diverse facilities ranging from top of the line sports arenas, to the most technologically innovative classrooms.
Bethesda's healthy lifestyle, family friendly neighborhoods, diverse inhabitants, safe suburbs, and alluring architectural aspects demonstrate why I call this town home.
Read 76 Reviews

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• 62,608 Population

Travilah

• Suburb in Maryland
• 11

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+

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• 11,858 Population

Ellicott City

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 183

Current Resident: I have lived in Ellicott City my entire life, and I would not change that. Ellicott City has offered so much to me and my family, in terms of education, job opportunities, and friendships. I have received an excellent education and my neighborhood has always been filled with friendly faces. I love that there is a lot of developed area, such as Route 40, where you can access restaurants, gyms, gas stations, and other amenities. However, Historic Ellicott City offers a quaint and unique small town feel as well.
Read 183 Reviews

• A+

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• 70,780 Population

Brookmont

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,810 Population

Chevy Chase Town

• Suburb in Maryland

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 2,948 Population

Chevy Chase Village

• Suburb in Maryland
• 4

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

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• 2,030 Population

North Bethesda

• Suburb in Maryland
• 36

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 36 Reviews

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• 49,971 Population

Rockville

• Town in Maryland
• 162

Current Resident: Rockville is a great city for families, college students, and older adults. It's a relatively large city, yet everything is close by. There is public transportation, such as metro and buses, available and easy to access. Additionally, Washington, D.C is a 30 min ride, either by metro or car. The city itself is clean and cozy. There are several parks for dog-walking and jogging, and also basketball and tennis courts for those who enjoy playing sports. In downtown Rockville, there is a movie theater, restaurants, shops, and various other shopping and service points. Overall, it's a nice city to live in!
Read 162 Reviews

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• 65,171 Population

Cabin John

• Suburb in Maryland
• 3

• A+

• A+

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• 1,958 Population

Chevy Chase

• Suburb in Maryland
• 21

Niche User: The area where I live is incredible. We have a top education system, and incredible opportunities to explore museums and natural parks. The public transportation system is effective and affordable, making access to Washington D.C. and Virginia easy. Overall the area is growing and developing successful businesses and there are several movie theaters and restaurants within walking distance from residential areas. Overall the place is safe, clean, and supportive of bigger and better businesses. I believe this area will continue to grow and improve over time.
Read 21 Reviews

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• 9,618 Population

Darnestown

• Suburb in Maryland
• 16

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

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• 6,509 Population

Derwood

• Suburb in Maryland
• 10

Current Resident: I love living in derwood. My apartment is great, the area is up and coming, and close to great places for entertainment. It’s far enough away from the big city, but close enough to get there quickly.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 2,012 Population

Four Corners

• Suburb in Maryland
• 11

Niche User: It's pretty safe. You do have a few crimes here and there, but nothing to be too concerned about.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

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• 8,596 Population

Clarksburg

• Suburb in Maryland
• 35

Current Resident: Very safe neighborhood, short driving distance to almost any major store and most recently have the added bonus of having the Clarksburg Premium Outlets nearby. The county seems to be working hard to build new schools to keep up with the volume of people moving into the area. The influx of people has also caused there to be much more traffic on 27 and 355 but they have recently expanded 27 to help account for this. The local HOA can sometimes be a pain in that any little thing you want to change about your house has to be approved - most recently we have a water collection barrel in our BACK YARD to water our garden with and help save the planet and we got written up for it even though it is barely visible to anyone who is not actually in our back yard.
Read 35 Reviews

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• A

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• 20,441 Population

Ilchester

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 42

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

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• 26,674 Population

Columbia

• City in Maryland
• 279

Current Resident: Columbia is very dog-friendly! There are beautiful trails to walk your dog and lots of other dog-people around. It's easy to find an apartment that allows dogs.
Columbia can be a hard place to get to know since there is minimal signage around and some small businesses are tucked away. Once you know the area, of course, you will appreciate the lack of ugly signs. Columbia neighborhoods have a distinctly '70s look and seek to blend in with the natural surroundings (some may like this, others may not).
The schools are very diverse - I went to my nephew's elementary school and in 5 minutes I saw several male teachers, a black teacher, a Latinx teacher, a Muslim teacher, and a range of ages among others. The students are also diverse in both ethnicity and income-level.
Read 279 Reviews

• A+

• A

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• 103,439 Population

Takoma Park

• Suburb in Maryland
• 55

Current Resident: Takoma Park, Maryland, is a quaint, super-sweet, progressive, and family-friendly town. For goodness sakes, we have a poet laureate! I came from the city of San Francisco and I was engaged in my community there, but Takoma Park gives us many more opportunities to be the neighbors we want to be. For example, in the winters, we are part of the Snow Angels who dig out our neighbors who are physically incapable of doing it themselves. Every Sunday, we walk up the street to the local farmer's market and buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Each month, we receive a paper that tells us the goings on in the neighborhood and events to look out for. We rent our house, but wish we could buy it because we love the neighborhood so much.
Read 55 Reviews

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• 17,567 Population

Fulton

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD
• 4

Current Resident: As with many areas close to/inside Howard County there's a lot of diversity in the people you can meet and the education system is fantastic.
Read 4 Reviews

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• 3,097 Population