Few DC suburbs are as closely associated with affluence and exclusivity as Chevy Chase, MD. From its storied history as Washington's original "streetcar city," Chevy Chase has been a quiet, family-centric enclave for the city's professional class. While the outskirts of the city to the north and west have experienced tremendous growth and a bit of suburban sprawl, the central core has retained its charming, unspoiled small town feel.
If you're looking for the best DC suburb for you and your family, here are some reasons to love Chevy Chase.
With a population of just under 3,000, Chevy Chase has a surprisingly large number of homes and buildings deemed of historical significance. In fact, the town council prepared three different walking and driving tours of the historic areas, showcasing beautiful Queen Ann-style homes, graceful Spanish Colonial Revival villas, Italian Renaissance residences, sturdy Dutch Colonial abodes, and stately Tudor-style manses. Chevy Chase Elementary School, one of the oldest schools in Montgomery County, is a stunning example of the marriage between Art Deco and Classical Revival architecture.
Even the homes of more recent construction are faithful to the classical aesthetic of of the town's architectural heritage. Stroll any of the quiet, tree-lined streets in Chevy Chase and you'll find lovely, low-slung, Craftsman-style bungalows nestled next to elegant Tudor Revivals with "catslide" roofs and manicured lawns.
Chevy Chase is an extremely affluent community: The median household income is well in excess of $200,000 per year and the average home price exceeds $1,000,000. In fact, it's not uncommon to find $5,000,000 homes on the market. Well over 70 percent of the residents have advanced degrees and nearly 75 percent are married with families. Given the city's demographics, it's not surprising that Chevy Chase is one of the safest places in the country, with just 1,100 crimes per 100,000 people, compared to 2,952 per 100,000 for the state of Maryland, and nearly 3,000 per 100,000 for the country as a whole.
The city hires off-duty Montgomery County police officers to patrol its parks, sidewalks, and residential areas, and there are active citizen CrimeWatch and Neighborhood Watch programs. Other public services, such as recycling, trash collection, and snow removal, are also top notch.
The schools in Chevy Chase are considered among the best in Maryland, with a wide assortment of district, public charter, and private schools and academies. The schools spend an average of $17,400 per pupil per year, compared to a national average of about $12,500, and the student to teacher ratio is just 14 to 1.
The community also sponsors a number of family oriented activities each year, including summer barbecues, a Halloween parade, and an Easter egg hunt. The Chevy Chase branch of the Montgomery County Public Library system is a favorite place with kids, hosting free activities such as pre-school STEM play time, Lego play events, and toddler time, as well as intellectually stimulating events for adults.
Even though Chevy Chase itself isn't known for its cosmopolitan flair, it's just a casual stroll from Bethesda, a vibrant urban center with world class dining, shopping, and entertainment. There are restaurants featuring every type of ethnic cuisine, from Afghan to Thai and everything in between—you can even take a cooking class.
There are cinemas, theaters, comedy clubs, and live music venues; if art is your passion, there are eclectic galleries, too. You can browse upscale beer and wine shops featuring hard-to-find vintages and premium brands. And of course, there is every type of couture fashion, not to mention shoes and accessories.
Friendship Heights lies just a short drive to the south, a diverse community and shopping mecca with an impressive array of luxury stores (Nieman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Dior, and Gucci, just to name a few).
Downtown DC is a straight shot down Connecticut Ave., a 15-minute drive during off-peak hours, 20 to 30 minutes during the morning and evening commute. You can also skip the hassle and take the metro to all your favorite DC hotspots; there are convenient stations in and around Chevy Chase.
Chevy Chase is a mature DC suburb; the average age is over 45, compared to just 38 for the rest of Maryland. The majority of households have at least one child under age 18 living at home, and most people live in detached, single-family homes—condos and apartments are few and far between. The town is idyllic and its lush parks and broad sidewalks are made for strolling with children or dogs. It's hard to believe it's just a few minutes from the heart of Washington, DC, with all the noise and hubbub that goes with urban living.
Chevy Chase probably won't appeal to young singles or couples looking for a starter home. It's definitely more suited for the established doctors, lawyers, and government executives who make up the majority of the population. But if you're looking for a peaceful, safe, and prosperous suburb to raise a family, Chevy Chase will feel like the perfect place to call home.
