Bethesda, Maryland
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Just northwest of Washington, D.C. is the bedroom community of Bethesda, ranked among the wealthiest and highly educated cities in America. Living in Bethesda offers residents an urban feel and most residents own their homes. Many families and retirees live in Bethesda and the public schools are highly rated.
A Place With No Boundaries
For over a century, Bethesda was little more than a crossroads village outside Washington, D.C. but farmland gave way to subdivisions at the end of the 19th century and the community became known for its mansions, one of which was home to the Norwegian Royal Family in exile.
Bethesda is now ranked the 20th best place to live in the country, according to Money magazine’s annual review. A thriving urban center, Bethesda is one of the country’s wealthiest and most highly educated communities, with over 80% holding at least a bachelor’s degree, a high number of residents holding professional or doctoral degrees and the median family income just shy of $180,000 a year.
Located in Montgomery County, Maryland just 7 miles outside Washington, D.C., Bethesda is one of the most beautiful and unique communities in the region. Known for its affluence and natural beauty, residents have a manageable commute into the nation’s capital. It’s also ranked as the healthiest place for women in the U.S. by Self magazine.
With plenty of upscale shopping, dining, entertainment options, a formalized Arts & Entertainment District that holds numerous cultural venues and hosts events throughout the year, a crime rate that is far below the national and Maryland average, and close-knit, family-friendly neighborhoods, it’s a great place to call home.
Bethesda is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jerusalem‘s Pool of Bethesda.
The National Institutes of Health main campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are in Bethesda, in addition to a number of corporate and government headquarters.
As an unincorporated community, Bethesda has no official boundaries. The United States Census Bureau, the United States Geological Survey the Census Bureau and Bethesda Urban Planning District all have slightly different definitions. However, the United States Postal Service defines Bethesda to comprise the ZIP Codes 20810, 20811, 20813, 20814, 20815, 20816, and 20817.
A View of Bethesda
Which Neighborhood Will You Call Home?
Battery Park/Bradley Hills
The Battery Park / Bradley Hills neighborhood really stands out because it has more large 4, 5, or additional bedroom homes and real estate than 98.5% of the neighborhoods in America. When you walk or drive around this neighborhood, you’ll instantly notice the size of the homes and their visual impact. Demand for real estate in Battery Park / Bradley Hills is above average for the U.S., and may signal some demand for either price increases or new construction of residential product for this neighborhood.
Bradley/Cohasset
Bradley Woods / Cohasset median real estate price is $1,215,461, which is more expensive than 99.0% of the neighborhoods in Maryland and 97.7% of the neighborhoods in the U.S. Many of the homes here are older, well-established, built between 1940 and 1969. Interestingly, 69.3% of its residents are married, which is a higher percentage than is found in 98.4% of the neighborhoods in America.
Kenwood Park/Landon Village
If you come to know the people here, you will recognize that you’re in the company of one of the wealthiest communities in the nation. In fact, a mere 0.2% of America’s neighborhoods are wealthier than the Kenwood Park / Landon Village neighborhood. Real estate here is exceedingly well-maintained, and similarly, tends to maintain its value over time.
Bannonockburn/Bannonock Estates
Bannockburn / Bannockburn Estates neighborhood has more Eastern European and Brazilian ancestry people living in it than nearly any neighborhood in America. In fact, 3.6% of this neighborhood’s residents have Eastern European ancestry and 1.9% have Brazilian ancestry. Additionally, something that stands out about this community is that many people’s commute means walking from the bedroom to the home office. In Bannockburn/Bannockburn Estates, 13.6% of residents work from home. This may not seem like a large number, but this is a higher percentage of people working from home than 96.4% of the neighborhoods in America.
Glen Echo
Executives, managers and professionals make up 83.7% of the workforce in the Glen Echo neighborhood which is a higher proportion of such high-level people than is found in 99.8% of the neighborhoods in America. For this reason, this neighborhood really stands out as unique. Additionally, the Glen Echo neighborhood has more Eastern European and Austrian ancestry people living in it than nearly any neighborhood in America. In fact, 4.1% of this neighborhood’s residents have Eastern European ancestry and 2.1% have Austrian ancestry.
Places to Explore in Bethesda
Strathmore: This gorgeous building is home to the Music Center at Strathmore, which showcases high quality music and arts education and performances. A state-of-the-art symphony hall, this venue has fabulous acoustics and free parking.
- Cabin John Regional Park: This park offers recreation and sports for every age. Various athletic fields including two tennis courts, Tai Chi and an indoor ice skating rink offers fitness options, while visitors can also connect with nature through a plethora of available hiking and biking trails. Younger kids become entranced by rides on the model train, playing at the Adventure Playground, or staring at the authentic Native American totem pole.
Imagination Stage: Imagination Stage is the largest and most respected multi-disciplinary theatre arts organization for young people in the Mid-Atlantic region. With the core belief that art should be inclusive and accessible to children of all ages, they offer year round seasons of professional performances, after school programs, summer camps and development training for teachers, students and families.
Lockhouse 6: Set in the 1950s of Justice Douglas’ famous hike to preserve the canal, Lockhouse 6 is furnished with objects reminiscent of the mid-Twentieth Century. Lockhouse 6, surrounded by mature sycamores, is a fully modern stone house with a covered porch and nearby parking. It provides ready access to Georgetown, the feeder canal, and the Capital Crescent Trail.
Kid Museum: Kid Museum is our regions’ pioneering experiential museum and educational makerspace. Their goal is to empower the next generation with the skills to invent the future. They deliver engaging experiences for kids, families, and educators through real-time distance learning and hands-on programs and summer classes. In their Maker’s Playground, kids can explore, create and imagine- taking inspiration from the world around them.
McCrillis House and Gardens: Hidden in a residential neighborhood in Bethesda, McCrillis Gardens consists of five-acres of naturalistic gardens and shady woodland walks and splashes of color and blooming frangrences. The Gardens feature paths that wind through the remarkable collection of ornamental trees and shrubs, along with bulbs, groundcovers and shade-loving perennials that add year-round color and texture. A pavilion and benches provide restful vantage points.
Fun Fact For Your Next Trivia Night
This picturesque town has been featured in numerous high-profile movies and television series, including The Bourne Legacy and several episodes of The X-files.
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