Washington D.C. has it all—museums, theater, politics, celebrities, celebrities in politics, arts, entertainment, and let’s not forget about all of those bars and restaurants. It’s one of the most desirable cities in the U.S. Unfortunately that also means crowded streets and a high price tag. Hence the popularity of its suburbs. In fact, when most people say they live “in Washington D.C.” they’re probably actually just somewhere outside of it. But which suburbs are the best? With sources like the U.S. Census, AreaVibes, and local business listings, we found out.
Imagine a place where the houses are beautiful, historical, and let’s be honest, huge. Of course there are some townhomes and condos in the area if you’re looking for something a bit smaller, but one thing they all have in common is the extremely high price: a median of $1 million. Of course there’s a reason living here is so expensive-Chevy Chase is kind of the perfect place for a family. The schools here are better than most in the country, the area is one of the safest, there’s always something going on in the close-knit community, and let’s not forget the nearly 50 restaurants, including some of the best Peruvian food in the D.C. area. If you can afford it, you won’t want to overlook Chevy Chase.
This charming little town is the safest in the D.C. area. The downtown area is dotted with antique stores, other little shops, and restaurants. There’s also a grocery store, hardware store, plant nursery, coffee shops, and a handful of restaurants—basically, all of the charming little amenities you’d expect from a town that belongs on a postcard. If you’re looking to raise a family or if you have kids already, Kensington is a great option, not just for its excellent schools, but for its walkability. Sure, the cost of living is higher than average, but to have your kids be able to walk to school safely in the morning—leaving you free to read the paper? That’s priceless.
Let’s be honest—Bethesda isn’t exactly cheap, but then again, not much near D.C. is. That being said, in Bethesda, you get what you pay for—and it turns out, that’s a lot. Downtown Bethesda alone is brimming with nearly 200 restaurants, 20 art galleries, two theaters, and some of the best shopping outside of D.C. The whole of downtown is pretty walkable and is accessible by the Metro Red Line. As far as the residential areas go, neighborhood streets are much quieter than the downtown area and homes are generally large single family houses on even larger lots.
Many people know Arlington, Virginia as the home to the famous (and beautiful) Arlington Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial, and of course, the Pentagon. But if you’ve been researching the area as a place to live, you probably know it better as a walkable, safe place to raise a family. Some places in Arlington are more walkable than others, though, like Crystal City, Rosslyn, and Ballston—but even if you don’t find your home in one of these villages, there are 11 Metro stops throughout the community, making Arlington car-optional.
Because of its high price tag and proximity to downtown D.C., McLean is something of a haven for wealthy politicos. So don’t be surprised if you run into folks like Dick Cheney or Colin Powell. Of course McLean isn’t just a great place for those who work in politics—it’s also a good place for anyone looking to raise a family near D.C. The schools in McLean are some of the best, not just in the area, but in the country, it’s safe, and there’s an excellent library. There’s also the Mount Daniel School Park and the newer Clemyjontri Park with a two-acre playground, carousel, and picnic area.
If you’re looking for a place outside of the capital with enough amenities so that you don’t actually have to commute into the capital all the time, Rockville might be the place for you. There are over 400 restaurants, including everything from Mexican to Mediterranean, there are gyms, spas, recreational sports options, shopping, live theaters, movie theaters, art galleries, and much, much more. Plus, whether you’re looking to rent or to buy, Rockville will have something for you. The areas west of I-270 tend to be a bit safer, but overall, the community has a low crime rate.
With a wide range of housing styles (and prices), Reston is an excellent place for most anyone—but particularly if you’re a young family. There are parks, pools, shopping, restaurants, and plenty of community events throughout the year, from festivals to farmers markets. There are also some really great schools in the area, like Armstrong and Forest Edge. If you’re looking for a good Washington D.C. suburb for families, you won’t want to overlook Reston.
This certainly isn’t the first time Potomac has been recognized as one of the best D.C. suburbs. In recent years, it has been named one of the most affluent towns in the U.S., one of the best-educated small towns in America, and even one of the “richest zip codes” in all of the U.S., according to Bloomberg Businessweek. In addition to being an excellent place for your kids’ education, it’s also a great place for their creativity and imaginations. Potomac offers a wide range of programs throughout the year, from art classes to dance, summer camps, and of course, the annual Potomac Day, which includes a parade, a crafts show, food vendors, and giveaways.
Ashburn is one of the best Washington D.C. suburbs for families. The streets are safe, the residential areas are lined with trees, big yards, suburban single-family homes, the schools are great… And that’s pretty much what’s going on in Ashburn. As far as actually going out, you’ll probably need to look elsewhere, but at least it’s just a quick commute to D.C., and there are plenty of nightlife options there!
This CDP of about 20,000 is probably best known as a shopping district. In fact, when many people hear “Tyson’s Corner,” they think of the shopping center (Tyson’s Corner Center) rather than the community. But rest assured, a community it is! In fact, it’s Fairfax County’s central business district and regional commercial center. Outside of the burgeoning business world, the schools are also on the up and up with some of the best high school graduation rates in the area.
In order to come up with this list of the best Washington D.C. suburbs to live in, we used sources like the U.S. Census, AreaVibes, and local business listings to look at each of D.C.’s 32 suburbs in terms of these criteria:
We ranked each place with a score from one to 32 in the above categories and then averaged all of these into one overall score for each place. The ten lowest scores went to the 10 Best Washington D.C. Suburbs. To see more of the top D.C. suburbs, just check out the table below. 
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
