Five Maryland communities were ranked in the top 100 of Niche's latest list of the best places to live in America.
Deb Belt, Patch Staff
|Updated Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 11:27 am ET
MARYLAND — Five Maryland communities are among the Best Places to Live in America in 2025, according to a new ranking from Niche released Monday.
Now in its 11th year, the ranking from the data-driven platform Niche helps everyone from young people just starting their careers or families to retirees decide where they want to live. The report analyzes places of various sizes, including cities with populations of 100,000 or more, suburbs and neighborhoods.
In Maryland, the following towns were among the top 100 on the list:
No. 26, North Potomac: This Montgomery County suburb earned an A+ overall, plus an A+ grade for public schools. Niche says: "North Potomac is the complete package. Within a 5 minute drive, you can be at a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, on a hike, at a wine bar, at a library, at a delicious bakery, shopping in a locally owned boutique, at a fabulous park… the list goes on and on. Beautiful, lush, green setting; lovely neighborhoods; and an excellent community feel."
No. 43 North Bethesda: This Washington, D.C. suburb in Montgomery County earned an A+ overall, plus an A+ grade for public schools. Niche says: "Living in North Bethesda offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In North Bethesda there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in North Bethesda."
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No. 44 Fulton: A suburb of Baltimore in Howard County, the community earned an A+ overall, plus an A+ grade for public schools. Niche says: The community "offers residents a suburban rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Fulton there are a lot of coffee shops and parks."
No. 80 Ellicott City: This Baltimore suburb earned an A+ overall, plus an A+ grade for public schools. Niche says: "Living in Ellicott City offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Ellicott City there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."
No. 81 Potomac: Much like its neighboring DC suburb at No. 26, Potomac earned an A+ overall, plus an A+ grade for public schools. Niche says: "Living in Potomac offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Potomac there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."
The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.
Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others. (More on methodology.)
According to the ranking, the five best places to live in the United States are: Colonial Village, VA; Atlantic Station, GA; Chesterbrook, PA; Harbour Island, FL; City Center, CA.
Note: An earlier version of this story omitted Fulton from the list.