One of the county’s oldest towns—it was established in 1801 and named for its proximity to Rock Creek—Rockville is nonetheless a quintessentially 21st-century American suburb: From the busy Rockville Pike with its big-box stores and shopping centers to its comfortable homes and quiet cul-de-sacs, Rockville is a study in contrasts. It somehow manages to be both a fitting setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s burial site (at St. Mary’s Catholic Church) and an attractive magnet for vibrant new immigrant communities. It boasts an impressive number of restaurants, shops and grocery stores offering authentic international cuisine. It’s also the site of Montgomery College’s main campus, as well as where the county government and courthouse are located.
Quick Facts (Rockville)
- Population
- 66,924
- Education
- High school graduate or higher: 92.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 65.1%
- Income
- Median household income: $122,270
- Housing
- Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $623,800
- Commute
- Mean travel time to work: 31.7 minutes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
- Mean travel time to work: 31.7 minutes
What locals say:
“I moved to Rockville from Kensington in 1997. I am married and I have three adult children. My kids had a great experience in MCPS schools—Lakewood, Frost and Wootton. I enjoy playing pickleball at Thomas Farm Community Center, King Farm and the North Potomac Community Center. The Rockville Farmers Market is a great resource for local produce and really good smoothies. There are many beautiful parks for hiking, such as Lake Frank and Lake Needwood. I enjoy biking in Rockville as well.”
—Beth Davidson, project manager at Marvin, a window and door company
Rockville
#9 Best Places to Live in Maryland
Niche 2024
#15 Most Diverse City in America
WalletHub 2024
In next-door North Bethesda, Pike & Rose, a multiuse development with restaurants, stores, entertainment venues and housing, provides a modern vibe to the area at the corner of Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road. Just down Rockville Pike, The Music Center at Strathmore is a world-class concert hall featuring classical, jazz, pop and world music as well as dance and other cultural performances.
Quick Facts (North Bethesda)
- Population
- 50,094
- Education
- High school graduate or higher: 93.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 72.7%
- Income
- Median household income: $131,142
- Housing
- Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $714,500
- Commute
- Mean travel time to work: 30.2 minutes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
- Mean travel time to work: 30.2 minutes
North Bethesda
#1 Best Places to Live in Maryland
Niche 2024
#7 Best Suburbs to Live in America
Niche 2024
This story appears in Bethesda Magazine’s 2024-2025 Insider’s Guide.
