Why Silver Spring?

Think Bethesda’s too bougie, DC’s too chaotic and Northern Virginia is too expensive? I’ve helped a lot of families who found that Silver Spring is the best DC suburb. Most of them were shocked they could get this much house, this much community, this diverse a food scene and still make it into DC without losing their minds or their wallets. It’s diverse, it’s dynamic, and it might just be the most underrated spot in the DMV. Here’s 5 reasons why Silver Spring works for real people (and one thing you need to look out for.)

Silver Spring, Maryland is one of the DC Suburbs that somehow flies under the radar while quietly being the overachiever of the DC metro area. During this video you may find yourself thinking, “How does Silver Spring have ALL of this?” Silver Spring encompasses a huge part of Eastern Montgomery County so yes, when you have this much land, you can have this much stuff! Let’s dive into the things you will love about living in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Urban Suburban Sweet Spot

You may wonder if Silver Spring is the best DC suburb or if really it’s DC that’s the suburb of Silver Spring. This is where city energy meets suburban comfort. You’ve got a walkable downtown filled with restaurants, shops, the Fillmore music venue, AFI Silver Theatre, and farmer’s markets. But there are also tree-lined streets in quaint, friendly neighborhoods with yards, parks, and playgrounds.

There’s an overall geography of Silver Spring that is important to understand, and it’s probably the biggest pro to living here. The neighborhoods inside the beltway are smaller communities as opposed to the neighborhoods as you get further north. I’m not alone in thinking of Silver Spring in terms of zip codes. A lot of people do this when it comes to Silver Spring. In fact, I would say this is the only place in the DC Metro area where people may use zip codes to refer to the areas.

Downtown Silver Spring is zip 20910. There are a lot of condos here as well as the homes surrounding downtown in the adjacent neighborhoods of Woodside Forest and Woodside Park. Many of the condos downtown were built in the 1960’s and the homes vary from 1950’s to new builds that used to be 50’s houses but were torn down and “mcmansioned.”

Zip Code 20901 is just north of downtown Silver Spring. Part of the zip code is inside the beltway and part is just outside. Neighborhoods like South Four Corners, Woodmoor and Franklin Knolls are here. These neighborhoods were built almost exclusively in the 1950’s.

Zip Code 20902 is outside the beltway, covering Forest Glen and Wheaton. Much like 20901, there are lots of 1950’s houses here.

Zip Code 20903 is the furthest east, straddling both inside and outside the beltway. It includes neighborhoods like New Hampshire Estates and Hillandale. Homes here were built in the 1950’s to 1970’s.

Zip Code 20904 is near the ICC or Intercounty Connector. The ICC connects 95 with 270. Think of it as an “outer outer beltway,” which was part of the original plan many moons ago for the DC area. This is the Fairland and Colesville area with homes built from the 1950’s to present.

Zip Code 20905 is north of the ICC and includes the Colesville and Spencerville areas. Most homes here were built in the 1950’s to 1980’s. This is also an area that definitely feels “out there” for anyone with a commute to DC – whether it’s once a week or every day.

Finally, Zip Code 20906 covers Leisure World, Aspen Hill and Glenmont – which are huge areas. Leisure World aside, the lots are larger. The homes were built in the 1950’s to 1980’s with quite a bit of development still happening through the 90’s into the 2000’s.

The takeaway? The neighborhoods near downtown are close together with smaller lots, and smaller boundary areas for the schools. Then as you move north and homes are more spread out over larger lots, it will feel much less urban and more suburban.

Metro Access Without DC Prices

The Silver Spring Metro station connects commuters to downtown DC in about 20 minutes via the red line, and in a couple years, the purple line connecting to Bethesda should be complete. For families or professionals who want access to the city but not the chaos or price tag of being in NW DC, it’s another argument for why Silver Spring is the best DC Suburb.

Here’s where it gets real: You can still find a three-bedroom single-family home in Silver Spring for under $700K. Try doing that in Northwest DC without needing a renovation budget and a prayer. Condos? You’ve got options under $400K – many walkable to the Metro. If you’ve been priced out of Capitol Hill, Logan Circle, or even Arlington, Silver Spring would like a word.

The affordability is a huge draw because every year it is getting harder to find property inside or near the beltway for $600,000. But you can do it here. The bulk of the homes in Silver Spring were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s. They are “mid-century” but not your classic MCM. These are solid brick houses, usually ramblers or split level

Another thing to note – the ease of access to the beltway and 95 from Silver Spring is exceptional. You could live here and have one person in your household easily commute to Baltimore and the other commute to DC. It’s hard to find areas in the DMV where that is possible.

A+ on Diversity

Wallet Hub ranked Silver Spring as the #4 most ethnically diverse city in the United States. Whether it’s food (Ethiopian, Salvadoran, Korean BBQ, vegan soul food), community festivals, or schools, Silver Spring reflects a global blend of people and perspectives—and that makes it vibrant.

So who actually lives in Silver Spring? Families. First-time buyers. Empty nesters. People who work at NIH, FDA, or downtown DC but don’t want a 90-minute grind home. There’s real community here—block parties, dog walkers, little free libraries. And yes, it’s one of the most diverse places in the region. That means amazing food, inclusive schools, and neighborhoods where pretty much everyone feels welcome.

Top-Rated Public Schools (Depending on the Pocket)

MCPS (Montgomery County Public Schools) has a strong reputation overall, but schools can vary block by block. School boundaries matter here, and they shift more often than you’d think. Boundary lines are constantly being revised. Montgomery County does offer some interesting programs in this area like the down-county-consortium or the “DCC.” There are 5 high schools in the consortium with two in Silver Spring, one in Wheaton, one in Kensington and one in Rockville. Your child would have preference at any of these schools should they not want to attend their in-boundary high school.

Parks + Green Space

Sligo Creek Trail is a local favorite for biking, jogging, and dog walking. Brookside Gardens https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/and Wheaton Regional Park are also gems for families and outdoor lovers. Brookside Gardens is within Wheaton Regional, and there are a selection of different areas to explore – everything from a Rose Garden to Children’s to Aquatic Gardens. And it’s free to go in! Right now there is a season butterfly exhibit.

One thing to beware of:

Now, a quick reality check. Not every street is a gem. And not every house was renovated well. Questionable renovations done by family members or friends of prior owners are rampant here. Because these homes were smaller and priced on the lower end of the range for Montgomery County, Silver Spring was long known as an area where you may have multiple generations living in a home or groups of friends who were contractors and doing their own renovations. What does this mean for you? Does it mean you don’t buy a home here?

Absolutely not. These houses are mid-century brick homes, and they are solid. They are a little more forgiving when it comes to sloppy renovations because, as they say, “the bones are there.” But you want to watch out for removal of support beams or walls and covering of fireplaces or air vents. Lots of weirdness can sometimes be found in these homes. This is why inspections are super important.

Is Silver Spring the Best DC Suburb?

It’s not some sleepy suburb. It’s an urban-suburban mashup just over the DC line. You’ve got a downtown with music venues, breweries, Whole Foods, and Red Line Metro with Purple on the way. And then? Ten minutes up the road you’re in a quiet neighborhood with big yards and swing sets. Silver Spring might just be your low-key dream come true.