For most people who can afford it, yes. Rockville grades A− overall, 86th of 259 graded towns in Maryland. Natural-hazard risk is low. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 96% of the country and the median household earns $129K. What holds it back is price: homes are expensive, about $595K for a typical one and 4.7 times the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. 66% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Rockville, above both the Maryland town median (42%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). Few places in the country are easier to get around without a car. Its National Register listings include Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage and Beall-Dawson House.

StrongestA⁺Hazard risk A⁺Walkability A⁺HealthWeakestDCost of living

What makes Rockville stand out

Where Rockville beats most towns.

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage

HistoryA⁻

Settled in 1700

11 places on the National Register

A history going back 326 years.

Natural hazardsA⁺

Very low risk of storm and flood damage

FEMA National Risk Index.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns

12.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage · National Register of Historic Places

Rockville’s story

326 years in pictures

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1700, comes before those of 97% of the Maryland towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,110 in 1900, 67,117 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1815 and 7 maps from 1908 on.

11 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1700Rockville is settled

Explore the history →

How Rockville grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Rockville is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for hazard risk (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 9%), so the A− overall blends very different results.

Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 2% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.1 of 20; 11.1% of households have no carA⁺Open →HealthAdventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center 2.5 miles awayA⁺Open →Cost of livingDOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsB⁺Open →SafetyB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors10% conserved landAOpen →History35 notable people born hereA⁻Open →Civic life6.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market$595K typical home, down 0.3% in a year; 51 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.6–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

White House and 289 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rockville. Close and well known come first.

All 325 attractions →

Big draw14 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year

Big draw15 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year

Big draw15 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery

Big draw15 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch

Big draw15 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year

Big draw15 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain

Getting set up

Moving to Rockville: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Rockville, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerPotomac Electric Power21.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Rockville water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site

SchoolsMontgomery County Public SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Maryland you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereMontgomery County Board of ElectionsMontgomery County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025

ZIP codes20850, 20852, 20851, 2085420850 56% · 20852 18% · 20851 18% · 20854 7%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Mar 11, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Rockville.

Rockville draws workers from Germantown and beyond and has less tooth loss than most of Maryland, but it has property taxes 1.6 times the Maryland norm.

OutdoorsA

Conserved land covers 10.5% of Rockville

19 miles of trail in 55 parks and preserves. The trail density in Rockville is 1.4 miles per square mile. Rockville Civic Center Park, at 153 acres with 2.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#43for trails in MD

10.5%

conserved · 907 of 8,658 acres

19 mi

of trails · 1.4 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Rockville Civic Center Park	2.2 mi	153
2. Upper Watts Branch Forest Preserve	0.7 mi	72
3. Woodley Gardens Park	0.5 mi	40

Full pageRockville’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map19 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk2.2 miles of trail · Rockville Civic Center Park Conserved land10.5% conserved · 907 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Rockville?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsB⁺

Public schools in Rockville beat 72% of Maryland districts

Its public schools are run by the Montgomery County Public Schools. Three of its 22 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

72%of MD districts it outscoresB⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Julius West MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	1,365	A⁻
Richard Montgomery HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	2,366	A⁺
Thomas S. Wootton HighTop results in townGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,870	A⁺

Full pageRockville’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsMontgomery County Public Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its 6 graded neighbors Every school22 schools · Bayard Rustin Elementary Questions“Are Rockville’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MD on state tests and graduation

HealthA⁺

Rockville earns an A+ for health

Its widest gap with Maryland is tooth loss: 6.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 9.9% statewide.

24% of adults have obesity in Rockville. Rockville beats the Maryland average on 21 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 12% of adults report frequent mental distress in Rockville.

96%healthier than U.S. townsA⁺Health Grade

	Rockville	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	24%	36%	35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	12%	15%	17%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	7.1%	11%	14%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	10%	12%	14%

32 measures vs. Maryland

21 better10 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	Rockville	MD
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	6.1%	9.9%
Fewer smokers	7.1%	10.9%
Fewer adults getting a yearly checkup	76.4%	79.2%

Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center

2.5 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

91st

percentile among MD towns

Full pageRockville’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby2.5 miles to an ER · Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than MD on 21 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade A

About one in seven working residents works right in Rockville

71,533 jobs are based in Rockville, 2.7 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 32.7% of workers work from home, against 19.3% across Maryland.

Most working residents leave Rockville for work: only 14% work in town. 33% of Rockville workers work from home. Since 2013, Rockville has added 13,307 jobs, to 71,533 in 2023.

14%work in town

	Rockville	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Work from home	33%	18%	11%
Median household income	$129,000	$113,000	$80,000
Working residents who work in town	14%	3.1%	8%
Average trip to work	31 minutes	32 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Rockville14%

Washington11%

Bethesda9%

North Bethesda7%

Gaithersburg5%

9 mi

median commute distance

71,533

jobs based in Rockville

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns

Full pageRockville’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here71,533 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work14% work in Rockville Commute times31 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 9 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁺

Rockville faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 98% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 11 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Rockville.

2risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesHurricanes

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageRockville’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims11 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters10 federal disasters · Paid out in Rockville Get ready5.5 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HousingCost of living grade D

Rockville earns a D for cost of living

The median property tax bill is $6,719, against $4,093 across Maryland, another input to its cost-of-living grade.

Rockville’s median rent is $2,274 a month. The typical Rockville home is worth about $595,000, about the same as a year ago, 40% above the Maryland typical home.

$595KZillow home value

	Rockville	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$2,274 a month	$1,809 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	53%	74%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	52%	51%	48%

Typical home value

Rockville$595K

Maryland$425K

Market temperature

days on market

101.7%

sale-to-list price

−0.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageRockville’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.6 years of income Rents$2,274 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 6 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Rockville

Rockville has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 25° and about 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.

6″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter27–44°

Spring43–64°

Summer64–84°

Fall47–67°

Nov 6

typical first frost

Apr 1

typical last frost

+1.7°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageRockville’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 25°Rain & snow6″ of snow a winter · 45 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

SafetyB⁻

Rockville sees more crime per resident than 51% of U.S. towns

Within Maryland, it does better than 73% of towns.

49%of U.S. towns report more crimeB⁻Safety Grade

	Rockville	Maryland towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	1.1 per 1,000 residents	2.4	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	12.6 per 1,000 residents	14.4	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Rockville1.1

Maryland3.7

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Rockville12.6

Maryland18.5

U.S.15.5

49th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

73rd

percentile among MD towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

864

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageRockville’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type1.1 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Vs. the neighbors6 bordering towns Questions“Is Rockville, MD safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Rockville

20pages on Rockville

The big questions

SchoolsB⁺Beat 72% of MD districts · 22 schools SafetyB⁻1.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁺Better than MD on 21 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD$595K typical home · down 0.3% in a year Work & commuteA$129K median household income · 71,533 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁺FEMA risk higher than 2% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA19 mi of trails · 10% conserved land PlacesAttractions325 nearby · Glenstone 5 mi LibraryBRockville Memorial Branch CollegesMontgomery College, in town

The story

HistoryA⁻Settled 1700 · 11 on the National Register Famous people35 born in Rockville Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 120 residents Climate86° summer highs · 6″ of snow

Day to day

News9 recent stories about Rockville WeatherHandbookZIP code 20847, 20848, 20849 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

29 within 15 miles of the center of Rockville

Montgomery CollegeCommunity college · Public · RockvilleIn town$5,394 in-state tuition SANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · Private for-profit · North Bethesda3.8 mi University of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · Washington, DC10.8 mi$5,662 in-state tuition

About 7 of every 100 Rockville residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maryland.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Montgomery College calls Rockville home

Montgomery College15,953 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: $8,027
Graduate: 32%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

11 places in Rockville on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann CottageBuilt 1936 · National Historic Landmark

Beall-Dawson HouseBuilt 1815

Rockville Railroad StationBuilt 1873

West Montgomery Avenue Historic District

Famous people from Rockville

35 notable people were born in Rockville.

See all 35 →

LogicAmerican rapper from Maryland · born 1990

Elden HensonAmerican actor · born 1977

Helen MaroulisAmerican wrestler · born 1991

BTAmerican musician · born 1971

Father John MistyAmerican singer-songwriter · born 1981

Jack CongerAmerican swimmer · born 1994

About Rockville

City in Maryland, United States

Official town website ↗

Rockville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, and is part of the Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fourth most populous incorporated city in Maryland. Rockville, along with neighboring Gaithersburg and Bethesda, is at the core of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor which is home to numerous software and biotechnology companies as well as several federal government institutions. The city, one of the major retail hubs in Montgomery County, has several upscale regional shopping centers.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1700
Area: 14 sq mi
Elevation: 449 ft
ZIP code: 20847, 20848, 20849
Area code: 301, 240

Rockville’s neighbors

6 towns share a border with Rockville.

Explore the map →

All 6 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its A−; Travilah (A−) is closest.

North BethesdaTravilahPotomacAspen HillRedlandNorth PotomacRockville

North Bethesda

SE · 7% of Rockville workers commute here

Visit

Travilah

Visit

Potomac

SW · 4% of Rockville workers commute here

Aspen Hill

Redland

North Potomac

How the neighbors grade

Town	MD rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Rockville	#86	A⁻	D	B⁻	B⁺	A⁺
North Bethesda	#34	A	D	—	B⁺	A⁺
Travilah	#80	A⁻	D	—	B⁺	A⁺
Potomac	#40	A	D	—	B⁺	A⁺
Aspen Hill	#78	A⁻	C	—	B⁺	A⁻
Redland	#26	A	C⁻	—	B⁺	A
North Potomac	#48	A	D	—	B⁺	A⁺

North Bethesda, Travilah, Potomac, Aspen Hill, Redland and North Potomac report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Rockville with a neighbor →

Questions about Rockville

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Rockville, MD a good place to live?

For most people who can afford it, yes. Rockville grades A− overall, better than 81% of U.S. towns and #86 of 259 in Maryland. It grades A+ for health, B− for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Rockville, MD safe?

Within Maryland, it does better than 73% of towns.

Is Rockville, MD expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.

What is Rockville, MD known for?

35 notable people were born here, including Logic and Elden Henson.

Post to Rockville

Check your email

RockvilleMD

Is Rockville a good place to live?

What makes Rockville stand out

326 years in pictures

How Rockville grades

White House and 289 more within 40 miles

Moving to Rockville: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 10.5% of Rockville

Public schools in Rockville beat 72% of Maryland districts

Rockville earns an A+ for health

About one in seven working residents works right in Rockville

Where working residents work

Rockville faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Rockville earns a D for cost of living

Typical home value

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Rockville

Typical low → high °F

Rockville sees more crime per resident than 51% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Everything we know about Rockville

Colleges nearby

Montgomery College calls Rockville home

Landmarks

Famous people from Rockville

About Rockville

Rockville’s neighbors

Questions about Rockville