If you and your significant other are thinking about living in
Washington, D.C., but aren’t sold on the high prices, congestion, and small apartments, this list is for you.
Using a whole bunch of data, we narrowed down the 10 best places near D.C. for young couples. Then, we asked local Movoto real estate agent
Christopher Johnson for his top picks, which you’ll see listed as Movoto Agent Picks in our Key Stats sections.
Let’s take a look at the 10 suburbs that made the cut.
1. Ashburn, VA
Key Stats:
- Residents under age five: 8.7 percent
- PlayScore rating: 72 out of 100
- Movoto Agent Pick
Ashburn, Virginia is the first on our list of the best D.C. suburbs for young couples. Home buyers will find modern townhomes and stately single family homes with room to grow.
Active young couples will love hiking and biking the scenic trails at Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park.
Local restaurant, Ford’s Fish Shack, is the perfect spot for a laid-back date night. Nightlife lovers will flock to Parallel Wine Bistro for sophisticated bites or Lost Rhino Brewing Co. for craft beer and live music.
2. Chevy Chase, MD
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $250,001
- Residents married: 71.5 percent
Young couples in the peaceful suburb of Chevy Chase have plenty of housing options, from chic modern condos to stately historic, single-family homes with room to grow.
Residents will enjoy hiking trails, golf courses, and tennis courts at the scenic nearby Rock Creek Park or spend the day browsing upscale retailers in The Collection at Chevy Chase shopping center.
3. Centreville, VA
Key Stats:
- PlayScore rating: 67 out of 100
- Residents married: 55.7 percent
Just a quick drive away from Washington, D.C. is the lively suburb of Centreville, which has plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife to offer a young couple. Centreville’s modern townhomes are a great option for first time home buyers.
Have a date night at the popular local brewery and restaurant, Sweetwater Tavern, or catch a flick at Centreville’s Cinemark.
This D.C. suburb is surrounded by beautiful nature and wildlife. Outdoor enthusiasts will love picnics at the Ellanor C Lawrence Park or hiking at the Cub Run Stream Valley Park.
4. Reston, VA
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,122
- Median household income: $107,962
The safe, peaceful suburb of Reston makes our list with plenty of amenities for a young couple to enjoy. Those searching for the perfect condo will have their pick of units in both small communities and modern high rises.
Convenient shopping is available at the Reston Town Center, an outdoor mall with over 50 retailers and 30 restaurants.
Scenic public parks, like the Lake Fairfax Park and the Vernon J. Walker Nature Education Center, are perfect spots for nature enthusiasts to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
5. Leesburg, VA
Key Stats:
- PlayScore rating: 72 out of 100
- Residents under age five: 8.2 percent
- Movoto Agent Pick
The D.C. suburb of Leesburg makes our list at number five as a Movoto Agent Pick. Young couples will find a home to suit any lifestyle in Leesburg, from modern condos to spacious single family homes.
Enjoy sports fields, fitness centers, 370 acres of parkland, and an outdoor aquatic center at the modern, well maintained Ida Lee Park and Recreation Center. Local tapas and wine bar, The Wine Kitchen, is the perfect spot for a romantic date night.
6. Mount Airy, MD
Key Stats:
- PlayScore rating: 71 out of 100
- Residents married: 58.4 percent
Young couples looking for a friendly small town vibe without sacrificing amenities will love Mount Airy, where they’ll find charming historic homes and quaint townhouses.
Rolling farmlands give residents plenty of room to spread out, while a lively Main Street houses local restaurants and specialty stores.
Downtown Mount Airy is full of dining options sure to please foodies. Grab some delicious barbeque from Carterque, or plan a date night on Laurienzo Brick Oven Pizza.
7. Burtonsville, MD
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $106,545
- PlayScore rating: 73 out of 100
Young couples searching for a home in the small town of Burtonsville will find new construction townhouses alongside large single-family homes with room to grow.
Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love boating, fishing, hiking, and hunting along the scenic Patuxent River.
Foodies will enjoy the variety of restaurants along Old Columbia Pike. Grab a bite to eat at Cuba de Ayer, or plan a night out with friends at Soretti’s Ethiopian Cuisine.
8. Bethesda, MD
Key Stats:
- High school graduation rate: 98 percent
- Median household income: $143,245
The well-connected suburb of Bethesda is the perfect spot for young couples that want to be a quick Metro ride away from D.C.’s shopping, dining, and nightlife. Bethesda’s chic modern condos are perfect for a young couple’s lifestyle.
Young couples that don’t want to leave home to have a great night out still have access plenty of amenities in this D.C. suburb. Korean fare at House of Milae and drinks and food at Mexican restaurant and bar, Gringos & Mariachis, make for awesome date nights.
9. Kensington, MD
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 461
- PlayScore rating: 71 out of 100
Kensington may be a tiny suburb, with a population of just under 2,000, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great amenities too. Condos in high rise buildings are affordable picks for young couples, but historic single family homes provide room to grow.
K Town Bistro serves up French fare, perfect for a romantic date night, while Frankly…Pizza! offers up creative toppings in laid back digs. Unique shops like Sage Consignment, Kensington Row Books, and Jantiques make it easy to shop locally.
10. Damascus, MD
Key Stats:
- PlayScore rating: 72 out of 100
- Residents married: 58.8 percent
Rounding out our list is the Maryland town of Damascus. Young couples will find affordable townhomes and quaint historic houses with room to grow.
Foodies will flock to local eateries like Main Street Pollo and Red Rooster. Plan a karaoke date night or see a live local band at The Music Cafe. Outdoor enthusiasts have plenty of space to explore at the 284-acre Damascus Recreational Park.
Our Methodology
To create our list of the best D.C. suburbs for young couples, we took at look at the following important criteria, using data from the
U.S. Census,
AreaVibes, and
PlayScore:
- Percentage of residents under age 5
- Percentage of residents age 22-34
- Percentage of residents married
- Median household income
- Median home value
- Total crimes per 100k
- PlayScore rating
- High school graduation rate
Then, we ranked each Washington, D.C. suburb in those categories and averaged the scores into one overall score. The D.C. suburbs with the lowest overall scores made up our 10 best suburbs for young couples.
Want to see how the other suburbs measured up? Check out the table below.
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
